CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

Retreaded Tyres

Bill Wiggin: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners how many vehicles for which the Commissioners are responsible are fitted with retreaded tyres.

Stuart Bell: None. Both companies with which the Church Commissioners have contract hire arrangements provide new cars with new tyres. They also confirm that all tyre replacements are with new tyres.

ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE

Legal Deposit Libraries

Oliver Heald: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what guidance the Electoral Commission has produced on the effect of the Legal Deposit Libraries Act 2003 on political parties and their constituent organisations; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Viggers: The Commission has advised me that it has produced no such guidance.

SCOTLAND

Road Congestion

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the impact on the Scottish economy of congestion on the M1 and A1.

Alistair Darling: Reductions in travel time, and improvements in reliability provided by the Highways Agency schemes on the Al/Ml, are generally assessed to have a significantly beneficial impact on the whole economy.

Energy Prices

Anne Moffat: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the effects of energy prices on the Scottish economy and consumers.

David Cairns: Oil prices have risen well above expectations but the economic effect on Scotland and the rest of the UK has so far been limited and will be less severe than in previous episodes of high prices.

Scottish Road Haulage Association

Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met representatives of the Scottish Road Haulage Association to discuss matters of mutual interest; and what issues were discussed.

Alistair Darling: I met representatives of the Scotland and Northern Ireland branch of the Road Haulage Association in Edinburgh on 22 September. We discussed a wide range of issues.

Electricity Costs

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the Treasury regarding the impact on businesses in Scotland of the cost of electricity.

David Cairns: I have regular discussions with Treasury Ministers on a wide range of matters.

Olympics

Eric Joyce: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport regarding the potential benefits of the 2012 Olympics for Scotland.

David Cairns: My right hon. Friend has regular discussions with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on a range of issues, including the potential benefits for Scotland from the London 2012 Olympics.

Dangerous Knives

James McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the Scottish First Minister regarding legislation to ban dangerous knives.

David Cairns: My right hon. Friend and I have discussions with Scottish Executive Ministers on a wide range of issues.
	Legislation on control of knives is a devolved matter. The Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill, which was published by the Scottish Executive on 3 October, includes provisions to double the maximum penalty for carrying a knife in public from two to four years; will give the police the unconditional power to arrest someone suspected of carrying a knife; and will increase the minimum age for buying a non-domestic knife from 16 to 18.

Commonwealth Games 2014

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement regarding the Commonwealth Games 2014 bid by Glasgow City Council.

David Cairns: Glasgow City Council should be congratulated on its bold decision to bid for the Commonwealth Games in 2014. A successful Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, supported by Scottish Ministers, will be a success for Scotland, delivering social and economic benefits to the city and the nation.

Drug Abuse

John MacDougall: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met the First Minister of Scotland to discuss drug abuse in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

David Cairns: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to my right hon. Friend the Member for Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill (Mr. Clarke).

WALES

Council Tax Revaluation

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many homes moved up one or more bands in the recent council tax revaluation process in Wales.

Nick Ainger: Figures provided by the Valuation Office Agency show that 33 per cent. of domestic properties in Wales moved up one or more bands following revaluation.

Council Tax Revaluation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the estimated cost is of the council tax revaluation in Wales to (a) the Valuation Office Agency and (b) central Government.

Nick Ainger: The costs of revaluation and rebanding were met from the National Assembly budget. Revaluation was undertaken by the Valuation Office Agency.
	The costs to date are estimated as follows:
	
		
			   million 
		
		
			 200203 1.510 
			 200304 1.790 
			 200405 1.970 
			 Total 5.270

Council Tax Revaluation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate the Valuation Office Agency has made of the number of households in Wales which moved up (a) four council tax bands, (b) five council tax bands and (c) six council tax bands, before the application of transitional relief, in the Welsh council tax revaluation.

Nick Ainger: At a revaluation, bands are reviewed according to the physical characteristics of the dwelling when the list comes into effect. However, no account is taken of subsequent improvements until either the ownership of the dwelling changes, or there is a further revaluation.
	It follows that some of the increases in banding will be as a result of physical changes made between 1993 and 2005.
	The figures requested are as follows:
	1,185 households moved up four bands
	339 households moved up five bands
	85 households moved up six bands.

Welsh Language

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will support giving the Welsh language treaty status in the European Union.

Nick Ainger: holding answer 14 October 2005
	The Government are committed to the principle that, in the conduct of public business and the administration of justice in Wales, the Welsh and English languages should be treated on a basis of equality.
	The European Union Constitutional Treaty was translated and is available on the website of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. We will consider translating future European Treaties into Welsh on a case-by-case basis.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Animal Trading

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many traders have been convicted in the UK for illegally trading in (a) wild animals and (b) products made from animals on the internet in each year since 2000; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Knight: We are not aware of any convictions for illegal trading of such items on the internet. However, in 2004 a man was given an official police caution for the illegal sale of a sperm whale tooth via an internet auction site. The tooth was confiscated.
	In 2005 a man received an absolute discharge for illegally advertising a stuffed snowy owl on an internet auction site.

Carbon

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the loss of carbon from soils since 1980; what she estimates the loss from this source will be in 2005; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: Based on soil carbon measurements carried out in England and Wales between 1978 and 2002, we estimate that on average 4.4 million tonnes of carbon has been lost from the top 15 cm of soil each year. The rate of loss in 2005 is likely to be at about the same level. The actual amounts will vary between soil types and land management practices, and recent evidence suggests that carbon is increasing in some soils. The cause of this loss, and whether carbon has been lost to the atmosphere or dissolved in water and incorporated in other sediments, or transported to lower depths, is not yet fully understood and Defra has therefore commissioned further research.
	We have introduced a number of soil protection measures that will help to conserve soil carbon. The reformed Common Agriculture Policy requires all farmers in receipt of the single payment to take measures to protect their soil from erosion, organic matter decline and structural damage. Further incentives for good soil/ land management are available under the Environmental Stewardship scheme. We are also planning further soil monitoring to estimate soil carbon levels.

Carbon

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much carbon was produced per person in (a) the UK and (b) each EU country in (i) 2003 and (ii) 2004.

Elliot Morley: The information requested is shown in the following table. Data for EU countries for 2004 are not yet available.
	
		Carbon dioxide emissions per person for EU countries
		
			  Tonnes of carbon per person 
		
		
			 (a) United Kingdom 2003 2004(1) 
			 Including LUCF(2) 2.63 2.65 
			 Excluding LUCF 2.56  
			
			 (b) EU (excluding LUCF) 2003 2004 
			 Austria 2.6  
			 Belgium 3.3  
			 Cyprus 2.7  
			 Czech Republic 3.4  
			 Denmark 3.0  
			 Estonia 3.8  
			 Finland 3.8  
			 France 1.9  
			 Germany 2.9  
			 Greece 2.7  
			 Hungary 1.6  
			 Ireland 3.1  
			 Italy 2.3  
			 Latvia 0.9  
			 Lithuania 1.0  
			 Luxembourg 6.5  
			 Malta(3) 1.7  
			 Netherlands 3.0  
			 Poland(3) 2.3  
			 Portugal 1.7  
			 Slovakia 2.2  
			 Slovenia 2.2  
			 Spain 2.2  
			 Sweden 1.7  
			 UK 2.6  
			
			 Average for EU25 2.4  
		
	
	(1)Provisional estimate will be subject to revision when final estimates are published in 2006.
	(2)Including the effects of land use change and forestry (LUCF) resulting in either a small uptake or loss of carbon dioxide from soil and atmosphere.
	(3)Values derived by the European Environment Agency from a gap-filling exercise.
	Notes:
	1.EU Emission data taken from Annual European Community greenhouse gas inventory 19902003 and inventory report 2005 (EEA, 2005).
	2.Provisional 2004 UK data taken from e-Digest of Environmental Statistics http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/statistics/index.htm
	3.Population data taken from Eurostat Yearbook 2005.

Carbon Emissions

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of carbon emissions from (a) domestic and (b) international shipping (i) by volume and (ii) as a percentage of total carbon emissions in the last year for which figures are available; and what strategy is in place to reduce such emissions.

Elliot Morley: The table shows carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions from UK domestic and UK international shipping in million tonnes of carbon (MtC) for 2003. The table also shows UK domestic shipping emissions as a percentage of the total 2003 UK CO 2 emission of 156.1 MtC.
	
		
			  Shipping CO 2  emissions (MtC) Percentage of total UK CO 2  emissions 
		
		
			 Domestic 0.9 0.6 
			 International 1.4  
		
	
	Under the internationally agreed methodology, greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping are excluded from the national greenhouse gas inventory. They are reported separately as a memo item and, if included, would represent less than one per cent. of the UK total CO 2 emissions.
	The international figure is derived from marine fuel (or bunker fuel) sales, and sales represents emissions from fuel burned by seagoing ships of all flags that are engaged in international transport.
	The domestic figure is also derived from bunker sales and represents emissions from fuel used for navigation of all vessels not engaged in international transport.
	The UK's approach to the regulation of shipping is to apply international standards to ships flying its flag and to ships entering its ports or operating in UK waters. Work on reducing maritime emissions goes through the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). At the last Maritime Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) meeting in July 2005, the United Kingdom contributed significantly to difficult negotiations on the adoption of Interim Guidelines for Voluntary Ship CO 2 Emission Indexing for Use in Trials (as well as Guidelines for On-board Exhaust Gas SOx Cleaning Systems).
	Ships under the United Kingdom flag are being encouraged to participate in these trials, which will help identify a ship's greenhouse gas index where the information obtained may be used in the context of reducing CO 2 emissions.

Civil Servants (Vegetarianism)

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on employing vegetarian officials at a senior level in (a) the Upland Land Management Farm Advisory Group and (b) other meat producing policy areas of her Department.

Jim Knight: Dietary preference is not a selection criterion for any posts in Defra. It would not be sensible employment practice to use it as a criterion.

Community Programmes

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many community heating schemes the Community Energy Programme has funded in Oxfordshire.

Elliot Morley: The Community Energy programme has not funded any community heating schemes in Oxfordshire.

Correspondence

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many letters to her Department from hon. Members in session (a) 200405 and (b) 200506 remain unanswered, broken down by those which are (i) one month old, (ii)two months old, (iii) three months old, (iv) four months old and (v) over six months old.

Jim Knight: We have no hon. Members letters outstanding that were received by the Department in 2004 or earlier.
	As at 10 October 2005, there are currently 396 unanswered hon. Members letters in the Department broken down as follows:
	(i) one month old = 283
	(ii) two months old = 53
	(iii) three months old = 43
	(iv) four months old = 16
	(v) over six months old = 1
	The Cabinet Office, on an annual basis, publishes a report to Parliament on the performance of Departments in replying to Members/Peers correspondence. The Report for 2004 was published on 6 April 2005, Official Report, columns 13740WS.

Emissions Trading

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the amount of greenhouse gases saved by the Government's emissions trading scheme in each year to date, broken down by region.

Elliot Morley: The UK Emissions Trading Scheme was launched in April 2002 and runs for five years. 31 Direct Participants (DPs) entered the Scheme by bidding annual, cumulative emissions reductions targets set against a 19982000 baseline. At the start of the Scheme the participants committed to deliver 3.96 million tonnes CO 2 equivalent (tCO 2 e) in emissions reductions by the end of the Scheme (2006). To date, DPs have exceeded targets, and the Scheme has delivered additional emissions reductions of 5.9million tonnes CO 2 e. In addition, six leading companies restated their commitment to the Scheme in November 2004 by offering an additional 8.9 million tCO 2 e emissions reductions.
	Unfortunately, a regional breakdown of results is not available, as information is compiled on a participant basis, and many participants have a number of sites throughout the UK. In terms of the Scheme's annual progress, a reduction of 4.6 million tCO 2 e took place in 2002. Over the first two years (2002 and 2003) the Scheme delivered emissions reductions of almost 5.2 million tCO 2 e. Over the first three years (2002, 2003 and 2004), the Scheme delivered emissions reductions totalling 5.9 million tCO 2 e.

Emissions Trading

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made on the inclusion of intra-EU aviation in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.

Elliot Morley: A priority for our Presidency of the European Council of Ministers is to press for the inclusion of aviation in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.
	The European Commission adopted a Communication at the end of September on reducing the climate change impacts of aviation. This favours the inclusion of the aviation sector in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme and sets out their intention to establish an Aviation Working Group to take forward the technical work. The Communication also sets out some design recommendations. We welcome this Communication as a key step forward for the EU in tackling these important issues. We will discuss the Communication in the Council of Ministers and aim to agree a way forward during our Presidency.
	In our role as Presidency of the EU, the UK held an Aviation and Emissions Trading conference on the 2627 September that provided an important opportunity for EU environment and transport officials to meet and discuss aviation and climate change. While our priority is emissions trading, we recognise that emissions trading may not be a total solution and continue to explore and discuss options for the use of other economic instruments.

Energy

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she has taken to ensure that advice from her officials is made available to Department for Trade and Industry Ministers on energy matters.

Elliot Morley: Defra continues to work closely with DTI across a wide range of policy issues on a daily basis. There are a number of formal channels, including several different elements of the Sustainable Energy Policy Network, the Joint Working Group on Energy and Environment, the UK Emissions Trading Group and the Climate Change Programme Review Project Board. These provide a platform for cross-departmental discussion and cooperation at both ministerial and official levels.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many meetings of the (a) EU Committee on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (Habitat), (b) EU Committee for the protection of species of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade and (c) EU Scientific Review Group for the protection of species of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade are planned for the UK Presidency of the EU; who will be presiding over each meeting; which other UK representatives will be present; what provision is in place for representation of the devolved governments; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The details relating to these Committees are as follows:
	(a) the EU Committee on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora (Habitats) is scheduled to meet once during the UK Presidency, on 19 October 2005. Meetings of this Committee are chaired by an official from the European Commission. Representatives from the UK will include officials from the Department supported by representatives from t he Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC). Representatives from the devolved administrations may also attend the meeting.
	(b) The EC CITES Committee (The Committee on Trade in Wild Fauna and Flora) is scheduled to meet once during the UK Presidency of the EU, on 13 October 2005. Meetings of this Committee are chaired by an official from the European Commission and UK representation on this occasion will comprise one official from the Department and one from Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs. Representatives from the devolved administrations may also attend the meeting.
	(c) The Scientific Review Group (SRG) is scheduled to meet twice during the UK Presidency of the EU, on 25 October 2005 and 20 December 2005. Meetings of this Group are chaired by an official from the European Commission and are ordinarily attended by DEFRA's scientific advisors from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC). Representatives from the devolved administrations may also attend the meeting.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many meetings of the (a) EU Standing Committee on agricultural research and (b) EU Community Committee on the farm accountancy data network are planned for the UKPresidency of the EU; who will be presiding over each meeting; what other UK representatives will be present; what provision is in place for representation of the devolved governments; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The EU Standing Committee on Agricultural Research will meet once during the current UK Presidency of the EU. The European Commission provides the Chair for the Committee and it will be attended by DEFRA. My Department will consult the devolved Administrations before the meeting and they are also invited to attend.
	The EU Community Committee for the Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) will also meet once during the UK Presidency. This will be chaired by the European Commission. As in previous meetings, there will be two UK representatives, this time from DEFRA and DARDNI.

Genetic Engineering

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will appoint a royal commission on the genetic engineering of food animals.

Elliot Morley: The Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission was set up by Government in 2000 to look at social and ethical issues relating to developments in biotechnology which have implications for agriculture and the environment, and to provide strategic advice to Government. In its second report it took a strategic look at the issues associated with animals and biotechnology and investigated the regulatory system to see if it could cope with future developments in agriculture and the environment. It generally concluded that the issues facing GM and cloned animals should be considered in the same way as for animals selected through established breeding procedures.

Herbicides

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the information derived from the Government-sponsored farm-scale evaluation of Bayer's herbicide-resistant GM oilseed rape, in respect of the capacity to cross-breed with charlock, was available to Ministers when the Minister for Climate Change voted in the EU Council in relation to France and Greece lifting their bans on GM oilseed rape.

Elliot Morley: Assessment of the possibility of cross-breeding (hybridisation) between a genetically modified (GM) plant and any wild relatives is a key aspect of the risk assessment carried out prior to any decision on the release or marketing of a GM plant. The capacity for cross-breeding (hybridisation) to occur between oilseed rape and a small number of sexually compatible wild species in the wild in Europe is well known and well documented. The Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment has given advice on this matter. The likelihood of hybridisation occurring and the resulting impact on the environment of such events were part of the assessments for the types of oil seed rape currently approved in the European Union.
	This was our understanding when Ministers voted in EU Council and there has been no new information that has altered this understanding. The results of the research that you refer to confirmed our understanding of the likelihood and frequency of cross-pollination between oil-seed rape and its wild relatives. The actual research report was not published until after the vote taken at council.

Hunting Trophies

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she plans to ban the importation of hunting trophies into the United Kingdom.

Jim Knight: The Government has no plans to ban the importation of hunting trophies. Powers are available to restrict the import and keeping of hunting trophies and we shall not hesitate to use these if there is evidence that this trade is illegal or unsustainable.

Imports

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the proportion of (a) organic foods, (b) drinking water, (c) parsnips and (d) yoghurt consumed in the UK which is imported.

Jim Knight: Estimates are as follows:
	(a) For organic foods it is estimated that about 38 per cent. of the types that can be grown in the UK are imported 1 .
	(b) In the year from April 2003 to March 2004 about 71 per cent. of the 876 million litres of mineral water purchased by members of households in the UK was imported 2 .
	(c) Imports of parsnips are negligible, so nearly all parsnips consumed in the UK are of UK origin. In 2004 UK production of parsnips was 91 thousand tonnes 3 .
	(d) In 2004 about 56 per cent. of the 480 thousand tonnes of yoghurt available for use in the UK was imported 3 .
	1 Source:
	Soil Association Organic Food and Farming Report 2004. 2 Source: Expenditure and Food Survey 200304 and HM Revenue and Customs. 3 Source: Defra estimates of production and HM Revenue and Customs.

Plant Varieties

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will require plant variety officers to maintain open lists of protected varieties under their marketing names.

Ben Bradshaw: The publication Plant Varieties and Seeds Gazette includes lists of protected varieties under their approved names. An approved name is required by the plant breeders' rights regulations, but it is a decision for the holder of plant breeders' rights whether or not to give a marketing name to the protected variety in addition to this.

Plant Varieties

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact of the Plant Varieties Act 1997.

Ben Bradshaw: The main effects of the Plant Varieties Act 1997 were extending the scope of plant breeders' rights to cover all plant genera and species and to include farm saved seed. Since the Act was introduced, applications for 10 species have been received for which UK plant breeders' rights were not available prior to its introduction. UK farmers and plant breeders have collaborated in introducing a system to collect royalties on farm saved seed.

Plant Varieties

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the circumstances under which naturally occurring plants may be (a) patented and (b) subject to plant breeders' rights.

Ben Bradshaw: Plant breeders' rights may be granted on a variety of any plant genera or species. However, simply discovering a variety growing in the wild would not entitle a person to a grant of rights on it. For such rights to be available the naturally occurring variety would need to be further developed.
	Plant varieties themselves cannot be patented. However inventions that concern plants may be patentable if the technical feasibility of the invention is not confined to a particular plant variety. Patents may therefore claim plant genera or species but they cannot claim individual varieties.

Plant Varieties

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will take steps to amend the labelling of plants covered by plant breeders' rights to prevent plants whose propagation forsale is prohibited being labelled as propagation illegal.

Ben Bradshaw: UK plant breeders' rights are governed by the Plant Varieties Act 1997. While offering protection against unauthorised commercial propagation, plant breeders' rights do not prevent propagation for private and non-commercial purposes. At present we are not proposing to introduce any specific labelling requirements in this respect in relation to plant breeders' rights.

Public Houses

Michael Wills: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many rural pubs have closed in each of the last 10 years.

Barry Gardiner: I have been asked to reply.
	Information on how many rural pubs have de-registered for VAT in the last 10 years can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	DTI figures for the whole of the UK, which includes rural and non-rural areas, based solely on VAT de-registrations for bars 1 are shown in the table for 1995 to 2004. Data for 2005 will be available in autumn 2006.
	
		VAT de-registrations 19952004
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1995 7,490 
			 1996 6,960 
			 1997 6,660 
			 1998 6,325 
			 1999 6,390 
			 2000 6,200 
			 2001 6,275 
			 2002 6,415 
			 2003 6,855 
			 2004 6,855 
		
	
	Source:
	Business Start-ups and Closures: VAT Registrations and De-registrations 19942004, Small Business Service, available at http://www.sbs.gov.uk/vats.
	VAT registration and de-registration data do not capture all business activity. Businesses are unlikely to be registered if they fall below the compulsory VAT threshold, which has risen in each year since 1997. Similarly, businesses that de- register will not necessarily have closed. Only 1.8 million out of 4.3 million enterprises were registered for VAT at the start of 2004.
	1 Standard Industrial Classification 554, includes bars, public houses and licensed clubs.

Regional Committees

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the expenditure by each of the (a) regional fisheries, ecology and recreation advisory committees and (b) regional flood defence committees was in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Elliot Morley: The Environment Agency is the principal authority responsible for management of flood risk and salmon and freshwater fisheries in England and Wales.
	Regional Fisheries, Ecology and Recreation Advisory Committees are advisory bodies set up to advise the EA on related matters. The only expenditure incurred by them are those associated with their meetings.
	The Regional Flood Defence Committees are executive committees of the Environment Agency which help deliver their Flood Risk Management functions. The expenditure by each committee in 200405 is given in the following table.
	
		
			 Region Committee Expenditure ( million) 
		
		
			 Anglian Anglian 77.9 
			 Midlands Severn Trent 44.5 
			 North East Northumbria 11.9 
			  Yorkshire 34.1 
			 North West North West 35.2 
			 Southern Southern 58.0 
			 South West South West 13.8 
			  Wessex 32.4 
			 Thames Thames 88.9 
			 Wales Wales 22.1

Regional Committees

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the (a) regional fisheries, ecology and recreation advisory committees and (b) regional flood defence committees are based on the government office regions.

Elliot Morley: The regional fisheries, ecology and recreation and advisory committees (RFERACs), and the regional flood defence committees (RFDCs) are based on the boundaries of the Environment Agency regions, not those of the government office regions.
	There are 7 RFERACs in England which are aligned to the 7 EA regions (NorthWest, North East, Midlands, Anglia, Thames, Southern and South West). There are 11 RFDCs in England which are similarly aligned, although the EA's North East, and South West regions are split into 2 RFDCs, and the Anglian region is split into 3 RFDCs. All these committee areas are based on river catchments.

Veterinary Fees

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to increase the fees paid to veterinary practitioners under the LVI contract; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 13 October 2005
	In November and December, the State Veterinary Service (SVS) will be implementing a backdated increase in LVI fees for work carried out between 1 April 2003 and 31 March 2005.
	The payment increase is being calculated by applying the relevant Retail Price Index (RPI) figure, firstly to fees for financial year 200304, followed by a further RPI increase for work in financial year 200405.
	There is a commitment to review fees for 200506.
	The SVS has recently commenced work on a review of how best to use veterinary resource to deliver its remit.
	The aim of the review is to agree a strategy for the delivery of veterinary and professional services that meets the current and likely future needs of the SVS and the community it serves. One of the issues to be considered is the possibility of introducing contractually-based arrangements for LVI work.

Water Supply

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received in the last 12 months regarding water supply in East Sussex over the next 10 years.

Elliot Morley: The Department has had discussions with Southern Water and South East Water, the companies that serve East Sussex, over short-term drought issues. In addition, I have corresponded with the hon. Member for Mid-Sussex (Mr. Soames) about the current water restrictions imposed by South East Water and about the adequacy of water resources to serve further development in Sussex. I have received no specific representations concerning water supply in East Sussex over the next 10 years.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Air Weapons

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes involving the use of air-soft weapons have been recorded in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Hazel Blears: Statistics for crimes involving soft air weapons, and other types of imitation firearms, have only been collected separately since April 2004. Full data for 200405 are not yet available but will be published in 'Crime in England and Wales 200405: Supplementary Volume' in January 2006.

Algerian Nationals

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Algerian nationals have applied for asylum in the UK in each of the last eight years.

Tony McNulty: Information on asylum applications by nationality is published quarterly and annually. The information requested is published in the annual bulletin Asylum Statistics United Kingdom 2004. Copies are available from the Library and on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

Algerian Nationals

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications from Algerian nationals for asylum have been refused in each of the last eight years.

Tony McNulty: Information on asylum refusals by nationality is published quarterly and annually. The information requested is published in the annual bulletin Asylum Statistics United Kingdom 2004. Copies are available from the Library and on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html

Animal Welfare

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will appoint a Royal Commission on the use of wild-caught primates in animal experiments.

Andy Burnham: The Government have no plans to do so. All non-human primates, whether wild-caught or captive-bred, are afforded special protection under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. For the use of wild-caught primates to be authorised, there must be no alternative tests appropriate, no suitable captive-bred animals available and the likely benefits must fully justify their use. I would look to both the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Inspectorate and the Animal Procedures Committee to advise on such applications should they arise. We have not authorised any acquisitions of wild-caught primates since 1998.

Asylum

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will allow refused asylum seekers to remain in their National Asylum Support Service accommodation until they are removed from the UK.

Tony McNulty: It is Government policy that asylum seekers whose applications have been unsuccessful should leave the UK. Routinely continuing to provide accommodation for those whose claims have been finally determined would undermine this policy. There is nothing to prevent the majority of unsuccessful asylum seekers from leaving immediately and they can request assistance from either the Immigration Service or the International Organization for Migration to do so. Support can be provided for those unable to leave the country immediately due to circumstances entirely beyond their control, by the use of section four accommodation.

BB Guns

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of offences involving imitation firearms involved BB guns in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Hazel Blears: Statistics for crimes involving BB guns, and other types of imitation firearms, have only been collected separately since April 2004. Full data for 200405 are not yet available but will be published in 'Crime in England and Wales 200405: Supplementary Volume' in January 2006.

Environmental Sustainability

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what targets he has set for improving energy efficiency in his Department; and what measures are in place to achieve these targets.

Charles Clarke: The Home Office is committed to making best efforts to achieve the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate energy targets; namely to reduce absolute carbon, from fuel and electricity used in buildings on our estate, by 12.5 per cent. by 201011, relative to 19992000 and to increase the energy efficiency of the buildings on our estate, measured in terms of kWh of fuel and electricity use per square metre of buildings floor area by 15 per cent. over the same period.
	In order to meet these targets the Department is benchmarking key office sites in order to identify those buildings which are high energy users. We then propose to undertake energy surveys at those sites, which will form the basis of site-specific action plans.
	We will also incorporate energy management clauses within future contracts and include energy performance among the criteria for future site selection. The contract for the management of the new headquarters site at 2Marsham Street requires our PFI partner to operate the building at 10 per cent. below the best practice benchmark contained in the Government's Energy Efficiency Best Practice Programme Energy Use in Offices Guide.
	The public sector Prison Service has an Energy Efficiency Action Plan. A benchmarking guide has been developed and the data used to help set carbon dioxide key performance indicators for each prison.
	The Prison Service was the first Government Department/Agency to be accredited under the National Energy Foundation's Scheme for energy efficiency and was re-accredited in 2003. It aims for reaccreditation every three years, which requires evidence of continuous progress.

Environmental Sustainability

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of electricity used by buildings in (a) his Department and (b) its agencies have come from renewable sources in each year since 1997.

Charles Clarke: The proportion of electricity from renewable sources used by the Department is set out in the table. The figures for the Home Office include key sites on the Department's agency estates, except the Prison Service, whose figures are shown separately. Figures for the Department's individual agencies could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	No renewable electricity was purchased in this Department prior to 2000 and no renewable electricity was purchased in the Prison Service prior to 200203. The Prison Service are evaluating the use of solar panels, wind turbines and Combined Heat and Power generation. Theperformance to date is against the targets set in theFramework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate that Departments should source at least 10 per cent. electricity from renewable sources by 31 March 2008.
	
		Percentage renewable energy purchased
		
			  Home Office(4) Prison Service 
		
		
			 200001 10.5  
			 200102 49.9  
			 200203 68.9 5.3 
			 200304 67.8 6.6 
			 200405 70.8 6.5 
		
	
	(4)These figures relate to key buildings only.

Environmental Sustainability

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what change there was in (a) road transport vehicle carbon dioxide emissions and (b) single occupancy car commuting in his Department in (i) 200304 and (ii) 200405.

Charles Clarke: (a) The Home Office does not collate figures on road transport vehicle carbon dioxide emissions.
	(b) The Home Office does not collate information on single occupancy car commuting but the majority of office sites already have minimal parking facilities. We are currently reviewing the departmental strategy for tackling the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate (FSDGE) travel targets.

Environmental Sustainability

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what parts of the Department's estate will not be covered by the commitments set out in the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate.

Charles Clarke: Home Office sites of an area less than 1000m 2 or with less than 50 staff have been excluded from the framework commitments.
	For some of the targets we also exclude sites where we do not have direct control of the building.

Guns (Sporting Events)

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the laws banning the use of certain handguns were relaxed in order to allow sporting events involving handguns to take place at the Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games.

Hazel Blears: The law was not relaxed to allow the pistol shooting events at the Commonwealth Games hosted by Manchester in 2002. The Secretary of State exercised existing powers under section five of the Firearms Act 1968.

Identity Cards

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with representatives of people with (a) facial disfigurements, (b) learning disabilities and (c) other vulnerable groups on the implications of the identity card scheme.

Andy Burnham: The identity cards team has had discussions with a number of organisations representing disabled and vulnerable people. During the consultation on the draft Identity Cards Bill in 2004, letters and copies of the consultation document were sent out to the following organisations;:
	Disability Rights Commission
	British Deaf Association
	British Institute for Learning Disabilities
	MIND
	Disabled Drivers Association
	RNIB
	RNID
	Equal Opportunities Commission
	British Council of Disabled People
	Officials gave a presentation to the RNIB as they were the only group to accept the offer of a meeting with members of the programme team. However, written responses were received from Helping Charities, Helping People (HPHC) and Rethink among others. Changing Faces, a charity that works with people of all ages who are disfigured in any way by birthmarks, cleft lips, burns, facial cancer and palsy, also took part in the consultation exercise on the draft Bill.
	Members of the identity cards team attended a consultation event in July 2004, the aim of the event being to examine the legislation on identity cards and to receive feedback from the public and private sector. A number of organisations representing disabled people attended this event including; the Wheelchair User community, the deaf community, Kaleidoscope and the blind community.
	Recently, members of the programme team have met the National Housing Federation which represents various housing associations. The ID cards team have also recently met the RNIB on two different occasions.
	We have included a very wide range of disabilities in the United Kingdom Passport Service Biometrics trial, which tested the enrolment of 750 people with varied disabilities. Disability Matters Ltd, which was engaged to oversee this part of the trial commented:
	The biometrics trial has taken comprehensive consideration of the needs of the disabled community by encompassing a pan-impairment approach. We have been impressed by the way that disabled people have been actively involved in this project.
	The ID cards programme is in the process of establishing a forum to ensure that all special interest groups are consulted on developments in the ID card scheme, and have regular opportunities to express issues and concerns.

Immigration Detention Centres

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many detainees held in immigration detention centres in 200405 (a) were granted leave to remain, (b) were deported and (c) remain in detention.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 14 October 2005
	Information on the number of individuals detained over a period or the outcome of their cases is currently not available. This information would be available only by examination of individual case files at disproportionate cost.
	Quarterly snapshots are published showing the number of people detained under Immigration Act powers on the last Saturday of each quarter. The data from 2004 to the second quarter of 2005 is published on a quarterly basis and can be found in the Quarterly Asylum Statistics publications on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html

Indefinite Leave to Remain

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications by post using form SET(M) for indefinite leave to remain as a spouse or unmarried partner of a person settled in the UK were refused in the year to 15 September on the grounds that the application was made more than 28days before the completion of two years' stay in the relevant category.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 17 October 2005
	Approximately 150 customers were refused Indefinite Leave to Remain between the 16 September 2004 and 30 June 2005 on the basis that he or she had made a premature application as the spouse of someone settled in the United Kingdom.
	This information has not been quality assured and is not a National Statistic. It should be treated as provisional management information.

Indefinite Leave to Remain

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the leaflet setting out guidance for the completion of form SET(M) for indefinite leave to remain was last revised.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 17 October 2005
	All the application forms used for leave to remain applications including the SET(M) form were revised in September 2005. At the same time that the forms were revised the guidance notes used with those forms were updated.

Party Conferences

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much additional funding was made available to Sussex police for policing of the Labour party conference in Brighton, including preparatory work.

Hazel Blears: I have approved a special grant of up to 3.692 million to Sussex police for additional costs incurred in policing this year's Labour party conference at Brighton.

Passports

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many UK passports have been (a) lost and (b) stolen in London in each of the last five years.

Andy Burnham: It is not possible for the UK Passport Service to identify exactly how many passports were reportedly lost or stolen in the London area, however the London and Peterborough passport offices, which serve the Greater London area, recorded 89,196 reports of passports that were lost or stolen in the year from 1 April 2004. This figure may include losses in areas outside of London, including from abroad while some losses in the London area may well have been reported to other passport offices.
	The total figures for losses across the UK for the last five years are as follows:
	
		
			  Total 
		
		
			 2000 114,624 
			 2001 148,230 
			 2002 166,358 
			 2003 184,301 
			 2004 306,406

Police

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to roll out Safer Neighbourhood Policing teams in the (a) Bedford, (b) Earlsfield, (c) Wandsworth Common, (d) Nightingale and (e) Furzedown wards of the Tooting constituency.

Hazel Blears: The roll-out of Safer Neighbourhoods teams is an operational matter for the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police.
	The Government have made a commitment that, by 2008, every area in England and Wales will benefit from dedicated, visible, accessible and responsive neighbourhood policing teams.

Police

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many ethnic minority police officers there are in (a) Wandsworth and (b) other London boroughs, broken down by (i) rank, (ii) year joined, (iii)gender and (iv) faith.

Hazel Blears: The information requested is not collected centrally. A breakdown of ethnic police officers by rank and gender is available at police force level only. These figures can be found in Home Office Statistical Bulletin number 12/05, Police Service Strength England and Wales, 31 March 2005 available on the RDS website: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/index.htm
	Available data for London boroughs are for total police strength only with no further breakdown.

Police

Andrew Pelling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to ensure that police community consultative groups are independent and effective critical friends of police services.

Hazel Blears: Section 96 of the Police Act 1996 places a duty on police authorities to make arrangements for obtaining the views of people in the force area about matters concerning the policing of the area. The Act does not specify that this duty should be fulfilled through the establishment of Police Community Consultative Groups which have no formal status in statute. The White Paper 'Building Communities, Beating CrimeA better police service for the 21stcentury' sets out the Government's proposals for the police and their partners to engage more effectively with local communities. Moving beyond reliance on public meetings as a sole form of engagement is a key aim of the Government's reforms.

Police

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many suspects arrested by North Wales police in the last three years for which records are available and in whose case proceedings are complete resided in Wales outside the North Wales police authority area;
	(2)  how many suspects arrested by North Wales police in the last three years for which records are available and in whose cases proceedings are complete resided in England.

Hazel Blears: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Reoffending (Hertfordshire)

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the reoffending rate of offenders within the Hertfordshire probation area was in each year between (a) 199798 and (b) 200304; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 12 September 2005, Official Report, column 2533W. The information requested is not currently available.

Road Safety

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign nationals have been extradited for driving without due care and attention in each of the last 10 years.

Paul Goggins: None. With a maximum sentence of six months, the specific offence of driving without due care and attention is not an offence for which extradition can be granted. The threshold for such offences is a maximum sentence of at least 12 months.

Security

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for further co-operation with G8 justice ministers on security issues.

Charles Clarke: I intend to continue cooperation with G8 ministers on issues of security. Most of my meetings are with counterparts who are Interior ministers. There is also contact with those dealing with justice issues. I recently visited the USA where I met with Homeland Security Secretary Chertoff and the Attorney General Gonzales from the Department of Justice.
	I have had a meeting with Russian counterparts the President's administrator, Victor Ivanov, Rashid Nurgaliev, the Minister of the Interior, and Ivan Chaika, Minister of Justiceas part of the EU Partnership Council in October 2005 in Luxembourg.
	I also met bilaterally with the French Interior Minister Sarkozy in London in October 2005 which included discussion about security-related issues.
	I will continue to participate in G8 Justice and Home Affairs ministerial meetings. This will include the G8 Justice and Home Affairs Ministerial Informal Meeting in Russia in June 2006, where it is expected that security issues figure on the agenda.

Statutory Instruments

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the statutory instruments sponsored by his Department since 1997.

Charles Clarke: Lists of all statutory instruments (SIs) from 1 January 1998 to 30 June 2005, prepared by the Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) have today been placed in the Library. These lists, prepared in alphabetical order by Department, detail for each year from 1998 the number and title of each statutory instrument sponsored by the Department. There are separate lists for general and local SIs. SIs which were Orders in Council are listed as Privy Council Office (PCO) instruments.

Taser Weapons

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police forces in England and Wales use Taser stun guns; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: On 14 September 2004, the then Home Secretary (Mr. Blunkett) announced that he had agreed that Chief Officers of all forces in England and Wales could make Taser available to authorised firearms officers as a less lethal weapon for use in situations where a firearms authority has been granted in accordance with criteria laid down in the Association of Chief Police Officers Manual of Guidance on the Police Use of Firearms. I understand that 28 forces in England and Wales are now deploying Taser.

Terrorism Act

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been (a) arrested, (b) charged and (c) convicted under the Terrorism Act 2000, broken down by (i) year, (ii) gender, (iii) ethnicity and (iv) religion.

Hazel Blears: Statistics on arrests under the Terrorism Act 2000 are available on the Home Office website. These statistics are provided by the police and are not available broken down as requested.

Terrorism Act

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many instances of stop and search there have been under section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000, broken down by (a) city, (b) year, (c) gender, (d) ethnicity and (e) religion.

Hazel Blears: Statistics on stop and search are available in two annual publications that can be accessed on the Research, Development and Statistics page of the Home Office website.
	The Home Office Statistical Bulletin: 'Arrests for Notifiable Offences and the Operation of Certain Police Powers under PACE; England and Wales,' details stop-searches under the Terrorism Act 2000, by police force over financial years. The bulletin also shows subsequent arrests.
	The document 'Publications under Section 95 of theCriminal Justice Act; Statistics on Race and the Criminal Justice System' details stop-searches under the Terrorism Act 2000 by ethnicity. Figures are collated by police force over financial years and they also show subsequent arrests under the Terrorism Act and other legislation.
	The statistics available show the number of stop-searches and the number of resulting arrests under both the Terrorism Act and other legislation by financial year and ethnicity. However, no details of resulting charges or prosecutions directly from Section 44 stop-searches, because the figures are not collated in this way. Gender and religion statistics for those stop-searched under the Terrorism Act 2000 are not recorded.

Zimbabwe

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases he has received in the last 12 months involving deportation to Zimbabwe; in how many cases he has exercised his discretion to stop deportation; and how many individuals have been removed to Zimbabwe.

Tony McNulty: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary outlined our policy on the return of failed asylum seekers to Zimbabwe in a statement to the House on 27 June. He updated the House by written statements on 6 and 18 July.
	On 4 August, in a case relating to the treatment of failed asylum seekers upon their return to Zimbabwe, the High Court granted permission for a substantive Judicial Review but deferred the substantive hearing to allow the specialist Asylum and Immigration Tribunal (AIT) to hear a test case.
	Quarterly statistics relating to asylum issues are published by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate on the Home Office website. The latest report was published in August. From those figures, I am able to report that since we resumed the removal of failed Zimbabwean asylum claimants to Zimbabwe in November 2004 and June 2005, 260 Zimbabweans were removed from the United Kingdom. Of those, 70 elected to leave voluntarily.
	Statistics relating to other cases, where asylum was not claimed, are published annually and are not available at this stage for 2005.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Affordable Homes

Susan Kramer: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many affordable homes have been (a) started and (b) completed in the last five years in each London borough.

Yvette Cooper: The numbers of starts and completions of affordable dwellings for the last five years on behalf of London boroughs are tabled. The numbers include homes for rent and for low cost home ownership, provided through new build dwellings, acquisitions and refurbishments, via the Housing Corporation Approved Development Programme including the Key Worker Living in 200405. They exclude (Transitional) Local Authority Social Housing Grant, the Starter Homes Initiative, and s106 agreements where there was no Housing Corporation Funding.
	Starts on site in any one year do not necessarily relate to completions (or to funding) in that year owing to the timing of funding and different rates of construction.
	
		Completions and starts on behalf of London boroughs from 200001 to 200405
		
			  200001 200102 
			  Starts Completions Starts Completions 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham 24 68 18 50 
			 Barnet 77 116 18 138 
			 Bexley 97 45 36 26 
			 Brent 184 359 165 322 
			 Bromley 115 127 77 75 
			 Camden 69 124 41 146 
			 City of London 0 0 0 4 
			 Croydon 215 154 152 350 
			 Ealing 75 148 301 156 
			 Enfield 587 232 251 431 
			 Greenwich 225 231 125 327 
			 Hackney 306 306 243 257 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 100 177 226 149 
			 Haringey 236 265 255 286 
			 Harrow 72 103 174 123 
			 Havering 95 20 21 197 
			 Hillingdon 99 253 106 185 
			 Hounslow 143 40 47 187 
			 Islington 161 214 205 152 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 82 61 0 72 
			 Kingston upon Thames 66 118 26 71 
			 Lambeth 294 134 161 244 
			 Lewisham 142 261 238 229 
			 Merton 97 57 42 76 
			 Newham 265 223 309 405 
			 Redbridge 94 101 89 199 
			 Richmond upon Thames 43 54 93 57 
			 Southwark 172 258 281 223 
			 Sutton 253 212 68 153 
			 Tower Hamlets 546 205 175 296 
			 Waltham Forest 181 241 179 224 
			 Wandsworth 96 94 50 130 
			 Westminster 179 394 106 349 
			 Total 5,390 5,395 4,278 6,289 
		
	
	
		
			  200203 200304 
			  Starts Completions Starts Completions 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham 7 28 68 22 
			 Barnet 143 99 223 132 
			 Bexley 34 150 79 68 
			 Brent 326 224 319 243 
			 Bromley 63 146 95 66 
			 Camden 216 150 225 165 
			 City of London 0 0 0 8 
			 Croydon 173 230 226 125 
			 Ealing 286 179 364 244 
			 Enfield 233 293 347 256 
			 Greenwich 245 149 962 586 
			 Hackney 306 373 561 482 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 245 103 163 488 
			 Haringey 210 167 385 349 
			 Harrow 68 121 109 111 
			 Havering 63 45 45 56 
			 Hillingdon 131 113 107 168 
			 Hounslow 188 118 337 327 
			 Islington 226 262 707 315 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 125 112 142 236 
			 Kingston upon Thames 25 43 114 55 
			 Lambeth 202 272 424 378 
			 Lewisham 447 234 377 303 
			 Merton 26 78 145 62 
			 Newham 239 327 535 304 
			 Redbridge 222 128 215 161 
			 Richmond upon Thames 27 15 202 109 
			 Southwark 237 250 559 340 
			 Sutton 128 196 375 145 
			 Tower Hamlets 176 404 744 336 
			 Waltham Forest 90 196 110 115 
			 Wandsworth 100 116 311 108 
			 Westminster 68 180 265 210 
			 Total 5,275 5,501 9,840 7,073 
		
	
	
		
			  200405 
			  Starts Completions 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham 324 154 
			 Barnet 98 174 
			 Bexley 142 91 
			 Brent 539 315 
			 Bromley 90 157 
			 Camden 228 336 
			 City of London 0 30 
			 Croydon 389 274 
			 Ealing 598 402 
			 Enfield 506 369 
			 Greenwich 334 458 
			 Hackney 111 359 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 370 376 
			 Haringey 493 272 
			 Harrow 310 141 
			 Havering 44 126 
			 Hillingdon 151 154 
			 Hounslow 387 165 
			 Islington 662 261 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 127 79 
			 Kingston upon Thames 141 195 
			 Lambeth 229 341 
			 Lewisham 330 504 
			 Merton 157 146 
			 Newham 700 426 
			 Redbridge 174 274 
			 Richmond upon Thames 69 192 
			 Southwark 925 639 
			 Sutton 228 349 
			 Tower Hamlets 757 153 
			 Waltham Forest 284 162 
			 Wandsworth 160 413 
			 Westminster 365 280 
			 Total 11,088 8,767 
		
	
	Source:
	Housing Corporation

Council Staff (Absenteeism)

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average level of absenteeism was in (a) each local council in England and (b) his Department in the latest year for which figures are available.

Phil Woolas: Data on sickness absence in local authorities is collected as part of the Local Government Best Value Performance Information (BVPI) series. A full list of all local authorities with information on staff days lost to sickness in 200304 in each may be found at www.bvpi.gov.uk. The equivalent information for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was contained in the reply from the hon. Member for Poplar and Canning Town (Jim Fitzpatrick) on the 10 October 2005, Official Report, columns 40405W

Council Tax

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when the Government intends to bring forward legislation to delay the council tax revaluation in England; and whether the legislation is planned to form part of a wider Bill.

Phil Woolas: The Government introduced the Council Tax (New Valuation Lists for England) Bill in the House of Commons on 13 October 2005.
	The Bill removes the requirements in the Local Government Finance Act 1992 for there to be a revaluation of domestic properties, in England, for council tax purposes on 1 April 2007, and at 10 yearly intervals thereafter. It will provide new powers to set a future date for the revaluation by Order so that it can be part of a fully developed package of funding reforms, taking full account of the work of Sir Michael Lyons' inquiry into Local Government Funding.

Council Tax

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what the new timetable is for the council tax revaluation in England;
	(2)  whether the Government plan to conduct a council tax revaluation.

Phil Woolas: The Government have announced that they are postponing the revaluation of council tax in England. They will legislate to substitute for the current revaluation date of 2007 a power to set the date for revaluation by secondary legislation. This will provide for revaluation to take place in such a way as to take full account of Sir Michael Lyons' work on the functions of local government as well as the financing. The Government do not believe that revaluation will occur during this Parliament.

Council Tax

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister for what reasons the council tax revaluation has been postponed in England.

Phil Woolas: Council tax revaluation in England has been postponed for the reasons set out in the Government's announcement of 20 September, copies of which are available in the Library of the House. Revaluation in Wales is a matter for the Welsh Assembly Government.

Council Tax

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the (a) money terms and (b) real terms percentage changes in (i) council tax and (ii) business rates in (A) England and (B) Great Britain between 199798 and 200506.

Phil Woolas: The requested information for England is tabled as follows. Figures for Scotland and Wales are a matter for the Scottish Executive and the Welsh Assembly Government respectively.
	
		
			  Average Band D council tax, 2 adults Net business rate yield 
			  Cash prices () 200506 prices(5) () Cash prices ( million) 200506 prices(5) ( million) 
		
		
			 199798 688 843 13,293 16,295 
			 200506 1,214 1,214 17,618 17,618 
			 Percentage change 76.5 43.9 32.5 8.1 
		
	
	(5)Adjusted using the All-items Retail Prices Index as at April.
	Source:
	BR returns (council tax); NNDR returns and central government information on central and crown lists (business rates)
	For council tax, it is usual to quote the average Band D figure for a 2-adult household when making comparisons over time. Average business rate figures are not routinely quoted, however, given the very wide variations in the rateable value of each property, and hence in the average rate bill. The business rate figures quoted in the table are therefore for the national yield.

Council Tax

Lembit �pik: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate his Department has made of the number of homes in England that would be (a) subject to revaluation and (b) likely to move up one or more bands in the rebanding process.

Phil Woolas: There are nearly 22 million such dwellings as at September 2005. No re-banding scheme has been designed for England.

Design for Manufacture Competition

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the location of each site in the Design for Manufacture competition; and what the estimated number is of (a) commercial and (b) affordable households to be constructed at each site in relation to the competition.

Yvette Cooper: There is no significant commercial property to be developed on the 10 Design for Manufacture Competition sites, other than incidental corner shops and community facilities that will be subject to detailed planning approval. These will be detailed during the next stage as the proposals for each individual site go through the planning process.
	The number of homes on each site is as follows:
	Oxley Park, Milton Keynes, Phase 2 site. Total of 145 homes, of which 43 are anticipated to be affordable housing.
	Oxford Road, Former Territorial Army Centre, Aylesbury Vale. Total of 100 homes, of which 30 are anticipated to be affordable housing.
	Upton, Northampton, Site D2. Total of 165 homes, or which 36 are anticipated to be affordable housing.
	Allerton Bywater Millennium Community, Leeds, Yorkshire. Total of 150 homes, of which 30 are anticipated to be affordable.
	School Road, Hastings. Total of 12 homes, with affordable housing level to be determined.
	Horns Cross, Stone, Dartford. Total of 37 homes, of which 11 are anticipated to be affordable housing.
	Former Rowan High School site, Merton, London. Total of 180 homes, of which 180 are anticipated to be affordable housing.
	Former Renny Lodge Hospital, London Road, Newport Pagnell, Bucks. Total of 60 homes, of which 20 are anticipated to be affordable housing.
	Former Park Prewett Hospital, Kingsclere Road, Basingstoke. Total of 137 homes, of which 47 are anticipated to be affordable housing.
	Former Linton Hospital site, Maidstone. Total of 123 homes, of which 43 are anticipated to be affordable housing.

Fire Control Centres

Mike Hancock: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will conduct a public consultation exercise on the proposal for a south east regional fire control centre; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The FiReControl project is a national project, and stakeholder consultation took place at national level before the decision was taken to proceed (the consultation paper was issued in December 2003 and a copy placed in the House Libraries). All fire and rescue authorities were consulted, including all those in the south east, and the practitioners' forum. There have since been consultations on key issues such as finance and governance and the outline business case, and consultation with stakeholders will continue throughout the life of the project.
	For further information on the FiReControl project please visit www.firecontrol.odpm.gov.uk.

Homelessness

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many homeless households with dependent children in all forms of temporary accommodation there have been in each year since 2000, broken down by Government region.

Yvette Cooper: Information reported each quarter by local authorities about their activities under homelessness legislation includes the number of households in temporary accommodation on the last day of the quarter and, since 2002, separately identifies those that include dependent children or a pregnant woman.
	The total number of households in temporary accommodation (as arranged by local authorities) as at 31 March in each year since 2000, and the number of these with dependent children or an expectant mother since 2002, in each region of England are presented in the following table. In January 2005 the Government announced in Homes for All its commitment to halve the number of all households in temporary accommodation by 2010.
	
		Households in temporary accommodation(6) arranged by local authorities, by Government office region
		
			  As at 31 March: 
			  2000 2001 2002 
			  All households All households All households Of which: with children 
		
		
			 North East 1,110 1,480 1,820 1,270 
			 North West 2,130 2,070 1,890 990 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 1,400 2,700 1,830 870 
			 East Midlands 1,980 1,940 2,070 1,440 
			 West Midlands 2,060 2,070 1,840 1,030 
			 East of England 4,470 5,180 6,350 3,850 
			 London 37,640 42,620 46,390 33,010 
			 South East 9,680 11,560 12,230 8,320 
			 South West 4,790 5,600 5,790 3,860 
			 England 65,170 75,200 80,210 54,660 
		
	
	
		
			  As at 31 March: 
			  2003 2004 2005(7) 
			  All household of which with children All households of which with children All households of which: with children 
		
		
			 North East 440 220 1,020 350 910 520 
			 North West 2,500 1,330 2,960 1,450 3,000 1,900 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 2,240 1,160 2,400 1,290 2,100 1,110 
			 East Midlands 2,420 1,750 2,820 2,090 3,030 2,250 
			 West Midlands 1,570 1,050 2,230 1,420 2,630 1,750 
			 East of England 7,630 4,870 8,220 5,650 8,250 5,480 
			 London 52,690 37,620 58,820 44,620 61,990 46,360 
			 South East 13,020 9,480 13,080 9,510 12,440 8,520 
			 South West 6,530 4,030 6,150 4,190 6,740 4,780 
			 England 89,040 61,510 97,680 70,580 101,070 72,670 
		
	
	(6)Households in accommodation arranged by local authorities pending inquiries or after being accepted as homeless under the 1996 Act (includes residual cases awaiting re-housing under the 1985 Act).
	(7)Provisional data
	Note:
	Totals may not equal the sum of components because of rounding.

Housing

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions his Department has had with the private sector in Coventry, South to increase housing development.

Yvette Cooper: There have been no specific discussions between the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the private sector in relation to increasing housing development in Coventry, South.

Housing

Andrew Smith: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which local authorities have held ballots on stock transfer; and which have opted for (a) transfer to housing associations, (b) transfer to arm's length management organisations and (c) to remain with the council.

Yvette Cooper: A list of local authorities that have held ballots on stock transfer and the outcome of those ballots; and lists of authorities that have had their stock options appraisal signed off by the relevant Government Office for transfer, ALMO, retention, and a mixed model, have been placed in the Library of the House.

Local Authority Pensions

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent estimate he has made of the cost to public funds of local authority pensions per year.

Phil Woolas: The most recent actuarial valuation of the Local Government Pension Scheme funds was carried out on 31 March 2004. Analysis of this data indicates that local authorities in England and Wales are committing about 3 billion during 200506 to ensure the on-going solvency of the scheme.

Lyons Inquiry

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether the Lyons Inquiry is a public authority under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Phil Woolas: The Lyons Inquiry is not a public authority under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act.

Minerals Planning Guidance

Clive Betts: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will issue further guidance to all planning authorities on the interpretation of Minerals Planning Guidance 3.

Yvette Cooper: The policy advice contained in Minerals Planning Guidance Note 3 is clear. We have no plans to review or revise this guidance.

Minerals Planning Guidance

Clive Betts: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps he has taken to satisfy himself that minerals and planning authorities are applying minerals planning guidance 3 consistently to decisions on applications for surface mining.

Yvette Cooper: The First Secretary of State does not examine each decision in terms of national policy. It is the responsibility of the Minerals Planning Authorities to consider and determine each application on its merits, within the context provided by national, regional and local planning policies, including guidance contained in MPG3. If, following a refusal of planning permission, an applicant feels that policies have not been complied with, without good reason, an appeal may be lodged and will be considered by an independent planning inspector.

Minerals Planning Guidance

Clive Betts: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps he has taken to satisfy himself whether policy 45 on opencast coal as contained in the draft submission of the North East regional spatial strategy conforms to the alternative tests of environmental acceptability or community benefits as contained in minerals planning guidance 3.

Yvette Cooper: On 5 October the Government made representations to the Secretary of the Panel which will hold an examination into the draft Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) for the North East of England. It indicated that since policy 45 on opencast coal applied a double test of environmental acceptability and a requirement to yield local community benefits, it conflicted with Minerals Planning Guidance note 3. The representation indicated the Government's view that a case has not been made for this departure from national policy and a regionally specific policy was therefore not justified in the RSS. The examination in public into the draft RSS, which is due to be held in spring next year, will provide an opportunity for the discussion and testing of matters selected by the panel following their consideration of all the representations made.

Population Statistics

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the population of Milton Keynes has been in each of the last seven years.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell to Mr. Mark Lancaster, dated 18 October 2005
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your question concerning the population in Milton Keynes over the last seven years. (17728)
	Below is a table showing the estimated population for Milton Keynes from 1998 to 2004.
	
		Total population, Milton Keynes, mid-1998 to mid-2004
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1998 202,900 
			 1999 206,700 
			 2000 209,800 
			 2001 212,700 
			 2002 214,100 
			 2003 215,700 
			 2004 216,700 
		
	
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics

Second Homes

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the number of English residents who have a second home within the United Kingdom.

Yvette Cooper: Estimates from the Survey of English Housing show that for the period 200304 to 200405 there were about 293,000 English households with second homes in Great Britain.
	Note that this will under-state the actual number of second homes in Great Britain because some households will have more than one additional home.
	Data from the Survey of English Housing does not separately identify second homes in Northern Ireland. Consequently an estimate for the United Kingdom is not available.

Small Business Rate Relief

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether he expects an increased take-up rate of small business rate relief to result in revenue reduction for (a) local councils and (b) central Government.

Phil Woolas: No. The allocation of money to local authorities for 200506 was announced through the local government finance settlement in February and will not be affected by increased take-up of small business rate relief. On the basis of research conducted before the relief scheme came into effect, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister expects that the amount of relief paid by local authorities on a national basis will be balanced by an amount raised from those businesses not eligible for the relief. However, if the actual total differs from these estimates, the Secretary of State has the power to adjust the small business non-domestic rating multiplier to address any imbalance.

CABINET OFFICE

Civil Servants

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many civil servants are on fixed-term contracts.

John Hutton: The number of civil servants on fixed-term or casual contracts as at 30 June 2005 (Quarter 2 2005) was 17,280 (full-time equivalents). This figure is an unpublished best estimate, by the Office for National Statistics, and relates to staff not on a permanent civil service contract.
	Detailed analyses of the civil service are published annually in 'Civil Service Statistics', copies of which are available in the Library. The latest version was published on 7 February 2005, based on information as at April 2004.

Gas Storage (Preesall, Lancs)

Ben Wallace: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the policy of the Duchy of Lancaster is towards the proposed use of Duchy land by Canatxx Gas Storage Ltd. and Canatxx Energy Ventures Ltd. for a new gas storage facility at Preesall, Lancashire; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: The Duchy of Lancaster recognises the importance of diversifying all energy sources within the United Kingdom to ensure a continuity of supply. However, the Duchy has informed Canatxx that it will not open any discussions in relation to the proposal for a new gas storage facility at Preesall, Lancashire until such time as Canatxx has completed the local planning process and obtained a planning consent for its scheme.

Gas Storage (Preesall, Lancs)

Ben Wallace: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the occasions on which (a) Ministers and (b) officials from his Department have communicated with Canatxx Gas Storage Ltd., Canatxx Energy Ventures Ltd. or a company associated with Canatxx with regard to their proposals for a new gas storage facility at Preesall, Lancashire (i) by letter, (ii) by e-mail, (iii) by telephone and (iv) in person; and what the content was in each case.

John Hutton: The Duchy office has had a wide variety of communications with Canatxx which has primarily been of an informative nature. It would not be appropriate to publish the content of these communications as this would be of a commercially confidential nature.

Health Service Report

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish the Strategy Unit Report on the structure of the Health Service.

John Hutton: The parts of the report Health Strategy ReviewAnalytical Report by the Strategy Unit that were eligible for disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (the entirety of phase 1 of the report) were published on 1 July 2005 and are available on the Strategy Unit website at www.strategy.gov.uk.

Ministerial Visits

Keith Vaz: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether any Cabinet Ministers are planning to visit India in December.

John Hutton: For security reasons it would not be appropriate to comment on any future visits abroad by Ministers. Ministers' future engagements are announced as and when appropriate.
	Since 1999, the Government have published an annual list of overseas travel by Cabinet Ministers costing more than 500. Information for the year 200506 will be published as soon as it is ready after the end of the financial year.

Taskforces

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what statistics he has collated on the number of taskforces set up by Government Departments in each year since 1990.

John Hutton: The annual publication Public Bodies, replaced in 2005 by an internet-accessible database, has recorded those taskforces, ad hoc advisory groups and reviews in existence as at 31 March each year since 2002. Before that four separate reports, published in January, July and December 2000 and October 2001, provided information on taskforces, ad hoc advisory groups and reviews in existence between 1 May 1997 and 31 March 2001. Prior to that no central statistics are available. Copies of all the reports, the Public Bodies publications and a database printout of the position at 31 March 2004 have been placed in the Library. A database printout of the position as at 31 March 2005 will be placed in the Library shortly.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Written Parliamentary Questions

Patrick McLoughlin: To ask the Leader of the House if he will make arrangements for the tabling of written parliamentary questions in any recess longer than three weeks.

Geoff Hoon: I have no plans to propose changes to current practice.
	The Government have always taken the view that the House should retain the principle of tabling questions during periods when the House is sitting and Ministers are in attendance to respond to parliamentary scrutiny.
	Ministers remain accountable for the work of their Departments, and Members can and do correspond with them during recesses.

Legislation (Programming)

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Leader of theHouse if he will review the procedures for the programming of legislation.

Nigel Griffiths: My right hon. Friend has no plans to do so.
	It has not been that long since both the Modernisation Committee and the Procedure Committee looked at this subject. Following their reports, the House approved changes to the relevant Orders (including making them into permanent Standing Orders) in October 2004.

Business (e-Tabling)

Chris Bryant: To ask the Leader of the House if he will ask the Select Committee on the Modernisation of the House to consider the extension of e-tabling to early-day motions and other business of the House.

Geoff Hoon: I would be happy to receive representations on this matter. The more we do to facilitate the use of technology by Members, the better.
	The procedure for tabling questions has been fairly successful. I understand that around half of those who are eligible to table questions have registered for the new service, and that in recent months between one quarter and one third of questions have been tabled in this way.

Departmental Vehicles

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Leader of the House how many vehicles for which his Office is responsible are fitted with retreaded tyres.

Geoff Hoon: For information on the use of retread tyres in vehicles provided to my Office by the Government Car and Despatch Agency I refer the hon. Member to the letter of 11 October 2005 which he received from the Chief Executive of the GCDA, reference UIN15087 and UIN15088. Copies of this letter are available in the Library.

Great George Street (Closure)

Greg Knight: To ask the Leader of the House whether he was consulted about the closure of the southbound carriageway of Great George street in July during a period when the House was sitting.

Geoff Hoon: I had not been aware of the closure of Great George street during July.
	However, I have been consulted about arrangements for road closures and other works in relation to improving the security arrangements for the Palace of Westminster, including the partial closure of Bridge street during the summer recess.
	Where appropriate, the House authorities and my office will keep Members informed of these arrangements to assist their access.

Steel Barriers

Ken Purchase: To ask the Leader of the House pursuant to his written statement of 13 July 2005, Official Report, column 32WS, on security arrangements (Palace of Westminster), what assessment was made of the impact on (a) traffic congestion and (b) public inconvenience of the steel barriers; and if he will place a copy of the assessment in the Library.

Geoff Hoon: It is not the practice of this House to divulge details of individual security projects but the hon. Gentleman may wish to know that the project to replace the concrete blockers and replace them with steel barriers included full consultation with Westminster City Council, Transport for London and English Heritage.

Volunteering

Nick Gibb: To ask the Leader of the House how many volunteering positions his Department has offered in each of the last five years.

Geoff Hoon: The Privy Council (PCO), which provides the administrative support to my Office, has not offered any volunteering positions within the last five years. The PCO does, however, encourage and support volunteering by staff members.

TRANSPORT

A166 (Stamford Bridge)

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether any bids for financial support or assistance have been made during the past five years from North or East Yorkshire highway authorities to replace or widen the existing bridge or construct a second bridge on the A166 over the River Derwent at Stamford Bridge.

Stephen Ladyman: No such bid has been made during the past five years. A bid to strengthen the existing bridge was received in East Riding of Yorkshire Council's 200405 Annual Progress Report, submitted in July 2005. This bid is currently being considered and a decision will be made in the annual Local Transport Capital Expenditure settlement, due to be announced before Christmas.

A27

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much has been spent on improvements to the A27 in West Sussex since 1997.

Stephen Ladyman: The expenditure from April 1999 to date on improvement schemes on the A27 in West Sussex totals 8.9 million. There is no information available for expenditure between 1997 and 1998.

A27

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to report on the consultation exercise regarding improvements to the A27 at Chichester.

Stephen Ladyman: The Highways Agency is currently finalising its analysis of the public consultation and expects to report by the end of the year. That work will be considered in the light of advice from the region on priorities, which is expected early next year and an announcement about improvements to the A27 at Chichester should then be made next spring.

A27

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his timetable is for further consultationon road improvements to the A27 around Worthing.

Stephen Ladyman: The programme for the consultation on road improvements to the A27 around Worthing will need to be reviewed in the light of the advice from the region on priorities, which is expected early next year.

A27

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the impact of the installation of traffic lights at the Grove Lodge Roundabout on the A27 in Worthing.

Stephen Ladyman: No assessment has yet been carried out regarding the impact of the new traffic lights at the Grove Lodge Roundabout in Worthing. The signalisation of Grove Lodge Roundabout was completed in the summer of 2005 and will be assessed in early 2006.
	The signals are the first phase of improvements at this location. In early 2006 it is also proposed to investigate the inclusion of a pedestrian crossing facility, and a local widening of the A27 (within the Highway boundary) at the entry and exit to the roundabout.

A27

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will visit Worthing to discuss congestion on the A27 with local residents and councillors.

Stephen Ladyman: Meetings with local residents and councillors can be held once the region has provided advice on its priorities, which should be early next year.

Aircraft Landings (Deportations)

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what records are maintained by his Department of aircraft which land in the United Kingdom and which are transporting individuals who are being deported or otherwise involuntarily transferred from the United States to another country.

Karen Buck: No information on aircraft transporting individuals being deported or involuntarily transferred from the United States is held by the Department.

Aviation Subsidies

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost was of subsidising airline routes in the United Kingdom using public service obligations.

Karen Buck: I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 9 June 2005, Official Report, column 616W.

Blue Badges

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many cases of blue badges being stolen from parked cars were reported in the last 12 months; and what steps he is taking to prevent the fraudulent use of stolen blue badges.

Karen Buck: Blue badge theft would be reported directly to individual local authorities, who are responsible for administering the blue badge scheme, including issuing badges and replacing lost or stolen ones. There is no legal requirement for local authorities to provide the Department with this information nor does the Department currently ask for that information as part of its annual blue badge statistical survey of local authorities in England. The devolved administrations are responsible for the scheme in other parts of the UK.
	Vehicle crime is a matter that the Government continue to take very seriously and initiatives continue to be taken forward to reduce levels of crime and theft in particular. In relation to theft of blue badges, the Department is currently working closely with the Home Office to assess the position and consider what action can be taken.
	The issues of abuse and misuse of blue badges are of particular concern to us. Indeed, these were considered during a recent comprehensive review of the blue badge scheme, which concluded with 47 recommendations from our statutory advisers, the Disabled Persons' Transport Advisory Committee, including a number of additional enforcement measures. The majority of the recommendations have been accepted by the Government and are being taken forward. The enforcement measures include a power for parking enforcement officers to inspect badges and the introduction of a national database of badge holders which, once implemented, we believe will be effective in reducing instances of misuse.
	Power to inspect
	Provision for a power to inspect badges has already been included in the Traffic Management Act 2004. The Department went out to consultation on the guidance for enforcement officers and badge holders in July this year and we intend to introduce the new power early next year by Commencement Order.
	Database of blue badge holders
	A research project looking into the feasibility of a national database of blue badge holders is now under way. It is scheduled for completion in December 2005, when a final report with recommendations on the way forward will be available.

Blue Badges

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people have been prosecuted in the last five years for fraudulently using disabled parking badges.

Karen Buck: Enforcement of the disabled persons' parking badge scheme is a matter for local authorities. There is no legal requirement for local authorities to provide the Department with details of any such prosecutions nor does the Department currently ask for that information as part of its annual Blue Badge statistical survey of local authorities in England. The devolved Administrations are responsible for the scheme in other parts of the UK.
	The issues of misuse and abuse of badges were considered as part of the recent review of the Blue Badge scheme. In concluding the review some 47 recommendations were made to Ministers through the Disabled Persons' Transport Advisory Committee, the Department's statutory advisers on the transport needs of disabled people, including a number of enforcement measures. The Government accepted most of these and is currently taking them forward. A summary of the recommendations and the Government's response to them was placed in the House Libraries on 18 December 2002.

Bus Services

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his strategy is for increasing the number of subsidised bus services in local authority areas outside London; and if he will make a statement.

Karen Buck: The total of local bus kilometres subsidised by English local authorities outside London has risen from 277 million in 199697 to 368 million last year. Decisions on which services to support are for individual local authorities, taking account of local needs and priorities, and in light of the resources available to them. These resources include the Revenue Support Grant and also this Department's Rural Bus Subsidy Grant (this grant totals 53 million this year).
	We are encouraging local authorities to get best value from their expenditure on bus support through for example the introduction of local accessibility planning and the publication of a best practice guide on tendering procedures.

Cycle Lanes

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of cycle lanes have been constructed in England in each year since 1997, broken down by local authority area.

Derek Twigg: Information on cycle lanes in England, outside of London for the financial years from 200102 to 200405 is set out in the tables which have been placed in the Libraries of the House. Data on cycle lanes has only been collected since 200102.
	The information is provided by local authorities on an annual basis as part of their annual performance report on their local transport plans. It is not verified by the Department. Responsibility for the accuracy of the data rests with individual authorities. The data are incomplete and includes some estimates.
	A breakdown of cycle lanes by London borough is not available. TfL estimates that there are approximately 300 km of cycle lanes in London. In addition, there are 431 km of the planned London Cycle Network Plus ready for adoption by London boroughs, though it is not exclusively made up of cycle lanes.

Free Travel

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what funding will be provided to local authorities to pay for the cost of free travel from 1 April 2006 for those aged 60 years and above; and if he will make a statement.

Karen Buck: The Government will provide an extra 350 million in 200607, which will be sufficient to fund the cost to local authorities.

Free Travel

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which local authorities provide free (a) local and (b) national (i) bus and (ii) public transport passes to pensioners.

Karen Buck: In England, free off-peak travel on public transport is provided to those 60 and over (unless otherwise specified) and disabled people by the London boroughs, the West Midland's Passenger Transport Executive, Merseytravel, Crawley, Redditch (bus only), Thurrock (bus only), Reading (bus only, and 65 and over), Bournemouth (80 and over), Plymouth (80 and other), and Rossendale (90 and over). No English authorities provide national free travel.

Free Travel

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how the term local will be defined when free local bus travel for pensioners is introduced in April 2006.

Karen Buck: Local will be defined as within the boundary of the district or unitary council, or the passenger transport executives in metropolitan areas.

Left-hand Drive Vehicles

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps the Government have taken to reduce the number of accidents involving left-hand drive commercial vehicles.

Stephen Ladyman: Vision to the right-hand side of large left-hand drive vehicles may be restricted. To help address this we have agreed, with European colleagues, a Directive requiring newly registered large goods vehicles to be fitted with additional mirrors. These mirrors will provide better vision along the side of the vehicle and also a better downward view of the traffic adjacent to the side of the vehicle. This Directive will start to take effect from January 2007.

Management Consultants

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which five management consultancies received the highest value of contracts awarded by his Department in each of the last three years; and what the total value was of the contracts awarded to each.

Karen Buck: pursuant to my reply, 22 September 2005, Official Report, c. 28567W
	A revised table for the 200203 financial year is shown as follows:
	
		
			 Supplier Value of contracts () 
		
		
			 Hyder 13,472,801 
			 Salomon Brothers Int. Ltd. 12,842,062 
			 Atkins 12,575,706 
			 Mott MacDonald 11,128,019 
			 Parsons Brinkerhoff 8,916,802

Management Consultants

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his Department's total spending on management consultants has been in each of the last three years.

Karen Buck: pursuant to my reply, 11 August 2005, Official Report, c.2396W
	The revised figure for external consultants and advisers by the Department in the 200203 financial year is 227.5 million. A coding error led to a sum 65 million being erroneously included in my previous answer on this subject. The Department has now adjusted its systems to prevent this from happening again.

Management Consultants

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list management consultants employed by his Department in each of the last three years.

Karen Buck: pursuant to my reply, 18 August 2005, Official Report, c.2852W
	A revised table has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Motorways (Camera Surveillance)

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many cameras are (a) in place and (b) planned for (i) the M42 motorway, (ii) other motorways in, near or around Birmingham and (iii)other motorways elsewhere in England and Wales; and what the total expected cost is in each case.

Stephen Ladyman: At the present time, there are 1,103 fixed cameras on the motorway network for operational management of traffic flow and incidents such as accidents, traffic and adverse weather conditions. These cameras have been deployed on the network over a 30year period and it is therefore not possible to provide detailed cost information. Cameras on the motorway in Wales are the responsibility of the Welsh Assembly.
	Operational cameras on the network are used for traffic and incident management purposes such as comprehensive surveillance of accidents, traffic and weather conditions. They do not measure vehicle speed. The provision of surveillance cameras is controlled by Departmental Standards and they can only be used for the purposes described.
	On the M42 Junction 3a to Junction 7, cameras have been installed as part of the Active Traffic Management (ATM) pilot scheme designed to manage flows of traffic in the West Midlands. The ATM project includes the provision of 211 fixed operational cameras at a total cost of 1.25 million, together with eight fixed enforcement cameras at a total cost of 0.360 million. A further eight fixed operational cameras are planned on the ATM project by December 2006, at a total cost of 0.320 million.
	Current locations of fixed operational cameras on the network are as follows:
	75 per cent. on Orbital MotorwaysBirmingham Box, M25, Manchester, Leeds and Dartford Crossing (comprehensive cover);
	25 per cent. on the rest of the network.
	On the M25 there are currently four enforcement cameras with a further eight planned later this year, following the completion of the M25 Junction 12 to Junction 15 widening scheme near Heathrow. Detailed cost information for the installed cameras is not available, but is estimated to be 0.180 million. There is a further enforcement camera in place on the M20 motorway in Kent although detailed cost information is not available.

Motorways (Camera Surveillance)

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total cost of providing temporary camera surveillance on stretches of motorway in England which were undergoing maintenance or repair work was over the last three years for which figures are available.

Stephen Ladyman: The total identifiable cost of providing temporary camera surveillance on these stretches of motorway over the last three years is about 6 million. This includes speed enforcement cameras and CCTV cameras to monitor traffic flows and incidents. The cost of some cameras may have been included in the main contract cost and it has not been possible to isolate those costs.

Ragwort Control Act

John Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department has taken to ensure that the Highways Agency and National Rail comply with the Ragwort Control Act 2003 Code of Practice.

Stephen Ladyman: The Highway Agency issued guidance to its managing agents in June 2004, bringing to their attention the requirements of the Ragwort Control Act 2003 Code of Practice and reminding them of the need to control infestations of common ragwort especially where near to grazing land.
	Network Rail is a private company and compliance with this code of practice is an operational matter for it alone. Network Rail's environmental policy includes ragwort control, and should the hon. Member have any particular concerns he should write directly to the company.

Rail Services

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the capacity of the Liverpool Street to Stansted rail line to cope with proposed additional runway capacity at Stansted airport.

Karen Buck: I refer the hon. Member to the answer Ihave given today (UIN 17487).

Rail Services

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received regarding the proposed reductions in train services between Bexhill-on-Sea and London Victoria.

Derek Twigg: The Department has received a number of representations from local organisations, Members of Parliament, local councils and members of the public since January 2004 on this issue. We have also received a petition from residents of the Bexhill area supporting the continuation of a direct service to Victoria. I also met the hon. Member for Bexhill and Battle to discuss the issues on 6 July 2005.

Rail Services

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans Network Rail has to revisit its analysis of future capacity requirements for domestic train services at St. Pancras to take account of passenger growth.

Derek Twigg: The Department will shortly begin developing a train specification for a replacement Midland Main Line franchise. The current franchise is due to expire in 2008. Capacity issues at St. Pancras will be discussed with Network Rail as the specification is developed.

Road Safety Partnerships

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his policy on ensuring the public accountability of road safety partnerships.

Stephen Ladyman: Safety camera partnerships are locallyformed and are locally accountable to their partners' organisations, for example, local highway authorities and local police. Safety camera partnerships undertake or discharge some of the duties and/or powers of the partners. The public accountability of these partnerships is the same as it is for the partners.
	The Department sets the rules and guidance for the safety camera programme and ensures that partnerships adhere to these to enable them to remain within the programme. The rules and guidance do not affect the public accountability of partnerships.

Stansted Airport Expansion

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans his Department have to improve (a) rail and (b) road connections to Stansted airport to take account of projected expansion of the airport's capacity.

Karen Buck: The Future of Air Transport White Paper supported development of a second runway at Stansted and the provision of associated surface transport to support this growth.
	BAA, the airport operator, is taking work forward to prepare a planning application for a new runway at Stansted. As part of this, the Government are working with BAA to identify surface access solutions that support both expansion at the airport and wider growth across the region.

Transport Projects

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what request for Government financial support has been made by the proposers of (a) the Thames Gateway Bridge and (b) the second Mersey crossing.

Stephen Ladyman: Transport for London requested PFI credits of up to 200 million for the Thames Gateway Bridge. The Department has agreed to this, subject to obtaining the necessary statutory powers and approval of the final business case.
	Halton borough council has submitted a major scheme business case for the New Mersey Gateway to secure Government funding of 64 million in conventional grant and 72 million in PFI credits.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Barristers (Strike Action)

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many barristers are on strike in respect of publicly funded work; and if she will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: The outrageous and irresponsible action by members of the Bar is taking place in only two parts of the country. Barristers are self-employed and take individual decisions about their work, so we have no figures on the numbers involved.

Barristers (Strike Action)

James Gray: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what contingency plans she has put in place in the event of a strike by criminal barristers dealing with publicly funded work.

Bridget Prentice: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave earlier to the hon. Member for the Forest of Dean (Mr. Harper).

Voter Registration

Jon Trickett: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will bring forward legislation to introduce a statutory duty on electoral registration officers to maximise voter registration.

Harriet Harman: The Electoral Administration Bill, introduced on 11 October, includes a new duty on registration officers to take all necessary steps to ensure comprehensive registers. Those steps include the following specific measures:
	(a) Sending the canvass form more than once to any address;
	(b) Making house to house inquiries on more than one occasion;
	(c) Making contact by such other means as the ERO thinks appropriate with persons who do not have an entry in a register;
	(d) Inspecting any records held by any person which the registration officer is permitted to inspect; and
	(e) Providing training to others carrying out the duty.

Voter Registration

Alan Whitehead: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what measures her Department is taking to encourage the registration of electors.

Harriet Harman: Electoral registration is one of our key priorities. The Electoral Administration Bill will allow people to register after an election has been called, will place a new duty on registration officers to ensure comprehensive registers, and will enable returning officers to promote participation at elections and at the annual canvass.

Voter Registration

Khalid Mahmood: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what steps she plans to take to increase voter registration in inner-city areas.

Harriet Harman: We are committed to tackling the problem of under-registration, particularly in inner city areas. Besides the registration measures in the Electoral Administration Bill, we are looking at ways to simplify the registration form and also intend to initiate a campaign, with the Electoral Commission and others, to increase registration in London which has the lowest levels of registration in the UK ahead of next May's local elections.

Postal Voting

Kitty Ussher: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will seek to make it an offence to make a false application for a postal vote.

Harriet Harman: The Electoral Administration Bill includes a provision to create a new electoral offence of falsely applying for a postal vote. A person found guilty of this offence will be liable to be sent to prison for up to two years, to receive a fine of up to 5,000, and to be barred from voting or standing as a candidate for five years.

Postal Voting

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what her policy is on all postal vote elections.

Harriet Harman: We have no plans to change S.10 Representation of the People Act which allows applications of all postal votes pilot.

Legal Aid

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans the Department has to conduct a review of the legal aid process.

Bridget Prentice: My right hon. and noble Friend published a policy document 'A fairer deal for Legal Aid' on 5 July 2005, Official Report, column 5WS. We need a fairer deal for legal aid. Fair justice at a fairer price: fair to taxpayers, fair to the vulnerable, fair to defendants, and fair to practitioners.

Legal Aid

Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs when she last met the Chairman of the Bar Council to discuss barristers' concerns about changes in legal aid funding.

Bridget Prentice: The Lord Chancellor and I meet regularly with representatives of the Bar Council and its chairman to discuss a number of subjects, including changes in legal aid funding.

Freedom of Information Act

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the adherence to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 by Government Departments.

Harriet Harman: My Department publishes data on the adherence of central Government to FOI on a quarterly basis, data for the second quarter covering April to June of this year was published on 30 September and can be found in the Libraries of both Houses and on my Department's website.

Asylum Seekers

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment she has made of the adequacy of provision of (a) legal advice and assistance and (b) interpretation facilities for asylum seekers in preparing their cases for asylum.

Bridget Prentice: (a) The Legal Services Commission (LSC) continually monitors supply of publicly funded immigration and asylum legal services to ensure that supply is sufficient to meet demand across the country.
	Asylum numbers have fallen significantly in recent years. Home Office figures show that the monthly application rate has fallen by almost two thirds since 2001, and a further reduction is likely. It is necessary to bear this in mind when considering issues relating to the supply of firms and organisations undertaking publicly funded asylum and immigration advice.
	The LSC is confident that there are currently few gaps in supply. However, where there have been gaps, the LSC have and will continue to take measures to address them.
	(b) The services of interpreters form an essential role in facilitating the provision of advice by legal representatives in immigration and asylum cases. The General Civil Contract therefore provides that suppliers may claim for the cost of using an interpreter wherever necessary.

Asylum Seekers

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment she has made of the adequacy of provision of publicly funded advice for asylum seekers in Sheffield.

Bridget Prentice: There are currently two specialist providers of immigration and asylum services in Sheffield funded by the Legal Services Commission (LSC)Sheffield Law Centre and Howells solicitors.
	Having assessed the provision of publicly funded advice in Sheffield, the LSC is aware that, because of the withdrawal of other contract holders from immigration work across south Yorkshire as a whole, there is some unmet need for immigration advice in the area.

Asylum Seekers

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment she has made of whether adequate legal advice is available in the places in which asylum seekers are located and to which they are dispersed.

Bridget Prentice: When a client is re-located by the Home Office, or if they choose to move to another location, they are entitled to instruct a more local representative using public funding. Although the same thresholds will apply, there is flexibility within the system to allow a new representative to pursue the case. New representatives can:
	carry out any urgent work required regardless of the costs incurred by the previous representative;
	apply to the LSC for a new threshold where they are unable to obtain relevant information from the previous representative;
	apply to extend a threshold where the case has merit and further work is required; and
	claim an extra 30 minutes work for an initial interview with a dispersed client

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs when the Secretary of State will reply to the letter dated 6 September from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mrs. Avamhin Mushtag.

Bridget Prentice: The Secretary of State and Lord Chancellor wrote to the hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton on 29 September in response to his letter of 6 September. I apologise that the hon. Member does not appear to have received the letter of 29 September. A further copy has been forwarded to the hon. Member.

Criminal Legal Aid

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs by how much expenditure on criminal legal aid has changed over the last 10 years.

Bridget Prentice: Expenditure on criminal legal aid rose from 616 million in 199596 to 1,192 million in 200405, an increase of 94 per cent.

Immigration Tribunal

Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs when she last visited an immigration tribunal.

Bridget Prentice: My most recent visit to an immigration tribunal was to Harmondsworth and Hatton Cross Hearing Centres on 23 June 2005. I hope to visit Loughborough Asylum and Immigration Tribunal in the near future.

Judicial Appointments

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many people have been appointed to the senior Bar in Northern Ireland in each year since 1997; and what the perceived community background was of the appointees in each year.

Bridget Prentice: There have been 25 persons appointed Queen's counsel in Northern Ireland since 1997 as follows:
	199912 appointments were made.
	200113 appointments were made.
	Candidates were not required to complete equity monitoring forms and therefore no information on their perceived community background is available.

Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what is the perceived religious affiliation based on educational background of the members of the Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission.

Bridget Prentice: The Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission is made up of eight men and five women, six of whom are regarded as Protestant, six as Catholic, and one as neither.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Africa

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department plans to take to ensure adequate funding for the treatment and prevention of parasitic diseases, with particular reference to (a) onchocerciasis and (b) trachoma following the Commission for Africa Report.

Hilary Benn: DFID is involved with a number of Global Health Partnerships for parasitic diseases identified in the Commission for Africa Report, such as lymphatic filariasis, (commonly known as elephantiasis) and onchocerciasis (river blindness). DFID does not support a specific trachoma initiative.
	We currently support the African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control. DFID has supported onchocerciasis control continuously from 1974 and we have contributed about 4.65 million to date. Subject to a satisfactory progress, we plan to continue our support to the African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control.
	DFID has also recently signed a five year contract of 2.5 million with the Global Alliance to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis. DFID's total contribution to date is now 5.9 million. DFID is working closely with the Global Alliance to encourage the integration of the many programmes designed to tackle individual parasitic diseases. This will provide a more cohesive approach to controlling these diseases at community, regional, national and international levelsincluding making the most of national health and international development funding.

Africa

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if his Department will make funding available for projects that send salvaged furniture to schools in Africa.

Hilary Benn: Whenever possible, the Department for International Development (DFID) provides aid to African countries in support of their own plans and through the country's own systems. This engenders country ownership of development activities and helps to build sustainable local capacity to continue delivering services in the long term.
	However, there are circumstances when more specific projects are appropriate, and DFID considers such applications on a case by case basis. Applications should be made to the Civil Society Challenge Fund, which is DFID's main central channel of support for UK based civil society organisations' programmes.

Departmental Finance

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the latest estimate is of underspend by his Department (a) in cash terms and (b) as a percentage of departmental budget for financial year 200405.

Hilary Benn: The information requested is contained in the Public Expenditure Outturn White Paper (PEOWP) 200405 (Cm 6639).

Disaster Relief

Peter Law: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what (a) financial aid and (b) logistical support the United Kingdom made available in response to (i) the tsunami in December 2004, (ii) hurricane Katrina in the United States in September, (iii) displaced people in Darfur during 2005 and (iv) the earthquake in India, Kashmir and Pakistan in October.

Hilary Benn: In response to the Indian Ocean disaster in December 2004, DFID has to date committed a total of 66,201,096 which includes assistance other than logistical support. Of this figure, 16,827,833 was programmed as support to logistics.
	In response to hurricane Katrina, DFID sent 2,900 blankets, which were transported free of charge by a Beluga aircraft donated by Airbus International. The value of this support is about 10,000. DFID also seconded an expert to help co-ordinate donations by other EU countries. Separately, the Ministry of Defence delivered around 482,000 Operational Ration Packs.
	DFID has provided 27 million of humanitarian assistance to the UN and non-governmental organisations in Darfur in 2005. While a portion of these funds are being used by agencies to support their logistical operations, it not possible to say with any accuracy at this stage how much is being spent specifically on logistics. In addition, this year we have provided 19 million to the Africa Union, which is supporting the protection of displaced people in Darfur. These funds are being used to airlift troops into Darfur, purchase equipment (including 450 vehicles), and the provision of military and logistics advice and training.
	In response to the earthquake in India, Kashmir and Pakistan, DFID has so far committed 13 million of support, of which 455,000 has already been committed to providing vehicles to support the UN's relief effort, and DFID has also committed 137,500 to underwrite the costs of two helicopters (including airlift) for the International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. DFID is currently looking at options for providing more helicopters.

Gabon

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance his Department is providing to Gabon in 200506; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: DFID has no bilateral development programme with Gabon. UK assistance is provided through multilateral channels such as the European Commission, UN agencies and the World Bank. The UK's share of multilateral support to Gabon was approximately 2,000,000 in each year of 2002 and 2003.

Illegal Bushmeat Trade

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the effects on the Central African rainforests of the illegal taking of bushmeat;
	(2)  what steps his Department is taking to encourage a reduction in demand for bushmeat in Africa;
	(3)  what assessment has been made of the environmental impact of the bushmeat trade in Africa.

Hilary Benn: The DFID Wildlife and Poverty Study estimated that 150 million poor people are significantly dependent on wildlife for their food and livelihoods. Bushmeat is an important part of this. The study drew out implications for donors, governments, the private sector and civil society. We disseminated the findings of the study widely. DFID has not carried out a specific assessment of the effects of the bushmeat trade on the central African rainforests.
	The Government have set up an Inter-Departmental Ministerial Group on Biodiversity to address global biodiversity loss, including the unsustainable and illegal trade in bushmeat.
	Efforts were made some years ago to reduce demand for bushmeat by promoting the farming of wild species such as the grass cutter, which are regularly hunted. However, this was technically difficult and proved unpopular with farmers and hunters.
	An environmental impact assessment of the bushmeat trade in Africa has not been carried out, although research commissioned by the Government has helped to understand better the harvesting of bushmeat in relation to global biodiversity loss. Officials are now assessing further research needs based on the conclusions of DEFRA's research project, 'Solution-oriented research needed to promote a more sustainable Bushmeat Trade in Central and West Africa'.

Indonesia/Sri Lanka

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much has been paid to the UK Government in official debt service by (a) Indonesia and (b) Sri Lanka in 2005; what the estimated payments obligation for (i) the remainder of 2005 and (ii) 2006 is; and how much relief has been given in each case.

Gareth Thomas: Following the December 2004 tsunami, the Paris Club of official (Government) creditors agreed a one year moratorium on payments on eligible loans held by Indonesia and Sri Lanka for 2005, to free up funds for post-tsunami reconstruction.
	The UK has no outstanding Paris Club debt from Sri Lanka, and therefore no debt covered by the moratorium. Paris Club debt owed to the UK by Indonesia has been included in the moratorium, with all payments due in 2005 deferred and rescheduled for payment over the following four years. The total amount due to the UK in 2005 was approximately 73 million; all of which has been deferred. Approximately 93 million will become due for payment in 2006.
	In addition to these Paris Club debts, there are small amounts of debt outstanding to the UK in the form of old CDC (formerly known as the Commonwealth Development Corporation) loans to Indonesia and credits made through the EU and World Bank to Indonesia and Sri Lanka. The CDC loans have been treated in the same way as the Paris Club loans as far as possible, while the credits made through the EU have only recently reverted to bilateral status and will also be treated in accordance with UK bilateral debt relief policies as soon as possible. This process is already under way, in co-ordination with the other EU donors and the World Bank. Payments on these loans made in 2005 and currently scheduled to fall due in 2006 are summarised in the following table:
	
		 million
		
			  Indonesia Sri Lanka 
		
		
			 Payments received to date in 2005 0.02 0.02 
			 Remaining payments due in calendar  year 2005 0.01 0.02 
			 Payments due in calendar year 2006 1.96 0.04

Seaports (Gaza)

David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what financial assistance the UK is giving to seaports in Gaza.

Hilary Benn: The UK expressed support at the Gleneagles summit for James Wolfensohn, Quartet Special Envoy for Disengagement, to stimulate a global financial contribution of up to $3 billion per year over the coming three years. This funding will come from both public and private sources and will assist Palestinian economic regeneration following Israeli disengagement from Gaza and parts of the northern West Bank.
	Mr. Wolfensohn is working closely with the World Bank in supporting the Palestinian Authority to prepare a Medium Term Development Plan for presentation to donors in December 2005. This plan will reflect the six priority areas for joint working between Israelis and Palestinians already identified by Mr. Wolfensohn. These priorities include the construction of an airport and seaport for Gaza as part of the essential easing of current restrictions on the movement of goods and people.
	The UK Government are working closely with Mr.Wolfensohn and the Palestinian Authority to help ensure that our assistance is in line with the Medium Term Development Plan, its priorities and timescales. The current expectation is that most of our funding will be delivered in 2006 and beyond.

St. Helena

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what actions his Department took to ensure it got best value in the awarding of contracts for improving tourism in St. Helena.

Hilary Benn: DFID awarded one contract focused on tourism development in St. Helena. This was worth 65,000. The contract was awarded after competition, against clear evaluation criteria related to quality of methodology, relevant previous experience, and commercial factors.

St. Helena

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his Department's policy is regarding the involvement of companies in consultancy as well as receiving public funding for tourism projects on the island of St. Helena.

Gareth Thomas: We have no plans to engage any companies for consultancy work on St. Helena, if at the same time as providing them with funding for tourism projects.

Street Children (Central America)

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on actions his Department is taking to protect street children in central America from human rights abuses.

Gareth Thomas: DFID has provided US$150,000 through the Inter American Development Bank to build the capacity of non-governmental organisations in Guatemala to strengthen the human rights of street children. DFID supports the Save the Children Fund (SCF) through a global agreement for its work worldwide, including the SCF office and youth justice initiatives in Honduras. In Nicaragua, DFID supported the work of Casa Alianza until February 2005.

Swaziland

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the impact of common agricultural policy subsidy reductions on sugar cane on the sugar cane industry of Swaziland.

Hilary Benn: Sugar accounted for about 7.5 per cent. of Swaziland's exports in 2003, about a third of which went to the European Union (EU). Changes to the EU regime, with exports to the EU at a lower price, could lead to a reduction in export earnings since the EU offers a higher price for Swaziland's sugar than other markets.
	Recent research indicates, however, that if Swaziland implements planned reforms of its sugar industry and secures unlimited access to the EU market through the proposed Southern African Development Community (SADC) Economic Partnership Agreement, then there should be positive impact on production levels, export earnings and employment. This is in contrast to the possible negative impact in most other African, Caribbean and Pacific Countries (ACP) Sugar Protocol countries. If Swaziland does not secure unlimited access then industry revenue and export earnings would fall from present levels.

Uganda

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to further capacity-building in democratic institutions in Uganda.

Hilary Benn: The UK is providing support with others for the political transition in Uganda to help create an environment in which free and fair multiparty elections can take place in 2006. This support includes capacity building assistance for key democratic institutions such as the Uganda Electoral Commission, all the main political parties and the media. We are also supporting a National Civic Education Programme to promote citizens' participation in the political process. We have a long-term programme of support to the Parliament of Uganda. In total, UK financial support for democratic institutions and the election process in Uganda is expected to be 850,000 this financial year. In addition our work to improve transparency in Government and to assist civil society in holding Government to account also supports the general trend towards democracy.

Uganda

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what conditions he has set for the resumption of the aid to Uganda which was withheld in April 2004 because of the slow pace of democratisation; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The UK has a Poverty Reduction Budget Support (PRBS) arrangement in Uganda to support the implementation of the Government's Poverty Eradication Action Plan (PEAP). This links assistance to the reforms set out in the PEAP including macro-economic management and governance. In 200405, 5 million out of the total PRBS provision of 40 million (and a total Uganda programme of 65 million) was not disbursed because of concerns about the progress of Uganda's political transition leading up to the multiparty elections that will take place early in 2006. A decision on our PRBS commitment of 50 million for 200506 will be made after an assessment of economic, financial management and sectoral performance criteria that have been jointly agreed between the Government of Uganda and budget support donors, and after a further review of the political transition also using agreed criteria. The decision will be guided by the UK Government's new policy paper on conditionality.

Uganda

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to reduce HIV prevalence in internally displaced persons camps in northern and eastern Uganda; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: In northern Uganda, which is the area most affected by the conflict and internal displacement, HIV prevalence, as measured at antenatal screening, is between 10 per cent. and 12 per cent. While this figure represents a decline from 26 per cent. in 1993, it is much higher than the national rate of 6.1 per cent.
	DFID is committed to reducing the spread of HIV in Uganda. Since 2002 we have spent over 5 million on an HIV/AIDS project which is supporting the work of the Uganda AIDS Commission and civil society organisations who are providing voluntary counselling, testing and treatment and establishing networks of people living with HIV/AIDS.
	Our Poverty Reduction Budget Support helps the Government's own response to the pandemic. We are working closely with the Government, the UN and other development partners to ensure HIV/AIDS programmes are effectively co-ordinated. The HIV/AIDS programmes of a number of the organisations with which we are working have a special focus on the problem in camps for internally displaced people in northern and eastern Uganda. In addition we are working with UN agencies to reduce the vulnerability of children and women to sexual violence and exploitation in the camps.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Burma

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will propose to the United Nations Security Council that it take action to address the situation in Burma.

Ian Pearson: We support any action in the UN Security Council which would help to promote reform and positive change in Burma.
	The UK remains deeply concerned about the political and human rights situation in Burma. The UK has been at the forefront of efforts over many years to bring pressure to bear on the military regime to reform and respect human rights. We regularly raise our concerns on human rights in Burma with the military regime, most recently on 22 August when our ambassador in Rangoon and other EU ambassadors had a meeting with the Burmese Foreign Minister, Nyan Win.

Burma

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the (a) human rights and (b) political situation in Burma.

Ian Pearson: We remain deeply concerned by the situation in Burma. Serious abuses of human rights continue, particularly in areas where there is still armed conflict. The humanitarian situation is grave. Only a genuinely inclusive process of national reconciliation can solve Burma's many problems.
	The EU Troika, including the United Kingdom, expressed concern over the situation in Burma to the Burmese Foreign Minister, Nyan Win, in Kyoto on 6 May as did our ambassador in Rangoon, and other EU ambassadors, on 22 August. We continue to believe that it is essential for the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) to enter into a genuine constructive dialogue with all legitimate representative bodies including Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy, and the ethnic groups to promote a peaceful, lasting and democratic outcome.
	Human rights violations have been highlighted by successive highly critical UK co-sponsored UN resolutions on Burma, most recently at the UN Commission on Human Rights in April. These issues remain a focus for the UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Burma, Professor Sergio Pinheiro, and the UN Secretary General's special envoy to Burma, Tan Sri Razali Ismail, whom we urge the SPDC to allow to return to Burma.

Cyprus

David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he hasdiscussed with the Turkish Government Turkey's position on recognition of Cyprus.

Douglas Alexander: I refer my hon. Friend to the observations on this issue made by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary during his statement on Croatia and Turkey on 11 October 2005, Official Report, columns 15759.

EU Sugar Regime

Andrew Pelling: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made to date with sugar reform under the UK presidency of the EU.

Douglas Alexander: As presidency, the UK is aiming to reach agreement on reforms to the EU sugar regime at the November Agriculture and Fisheries Council. Examination of the reform proposals in the council is under way. We have already held discussions on these matters in a series of working groups and in the margins of the September Agriculture Council. By the end of October, the UK presidency and the Commission will have also held trilateral meetings with every other member state. The Commission has said that it believes early agreement is essential in order to provide a sustainable framework for the industry itself, to help the EU comply with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Appellate Body ruling against the current regime and to send a strong positive signal ahead of the WTO Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong in December. We support that analysis. We are also seeking agreement on good, timely transitional assistance arrangements for African, Caribbean and Pacific countries affected by the reforms to help them adjust.

European Commission

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list proposals from the European Commission put into effect since 1 June that have Articles (a) 94, (b) 95 and (c) 308 as their base; which of these have been challenged by the Government on the grounds of legal treaty basis; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: In general, the legal basis of Community legislation is determined on the basis of objective factors that are amenable to judicial review, in particular with regard to the aim and content of the measure. The Government are committed to ensuring that the correct legal base is used in European legislation. There may be occasions when the Government disagree with the Commission and other member states over the use of a particular legal base. In these circumstances a number of options remain open to the Government, including either to vote against or abstain from supporting the proposal. We also have the option of recording our disagreement with the legal base in a minutes statement.
	Two pieces of legislation falling directly within the departmental responsibilities of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office fall under the category the hon. Member set out. A Council Regulation imposing certain restrictive measures directed against persons acting in violation of the arms embargo with regard to the Democratic Republic of the Congo was adopted at the General Affairs and External Relations Council on 18 July. This used Article 308 as one of three legal bases. A Council Regulation imposing specific restrictive measures directed against certain persons impeding the peace process and breaking international law in the conflict in the Darfur region in Sudan was adopted at the same Council. This also used Article 308 as one of three legal bases. The Government did not challenge the legal base of these regulations. In so far as the question relates to the business of other Government Departments, it would be most appropriately be directed to their Secretaries of State.

Iran

Mark Fisher: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether it was ever his policy to supply military equipment to Iran.

Kim Howells: The established policy of the EU is not to supply arms to Iran. We assess export licence applications on a case-by-case basis against the consolidated EU and national arms export licensing criteria and other policies taking into account the prevailing circumstances at the time. We will not issue an export licence if approval would be inconsistent with national embargoes observed by the UK. I refer my hon. Friend to the parliamentary statements made by Douglas Hurd, the then Foreign Secretary, on 1 March 1993 and my hon. Friend Tony Lloyd, the then Minister of State, on 28 September 1998, which set out our approach in respect of Iran. We will not issue licences for the export to Iran of goods or technology on the military or nuclear list, except for goods essential for the safety of civil aircraft and air traffic control systems and certain radioactive substances for medical use. No licences will be approved for any equipment where there is knowledge or reason to suspect that it will go to a military end-user or be used for military purposes. On very rare occasions, and with parliamentary agreement, exceptions are made where denying an export or gift would be against the spirit of the embargo. For example, we did so earlier this year with a small donation of body armour for the anti-narcotics police, who work closely with the UK and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to prevent drugs trafficking.

Israel

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the introduction of the Civil Wrongs/Torts (Liability of the State) Law and the Citizenship and Entry into Israel Law by the Israeli Government; and what assessment he has made of how this will impact on Palestinians.

Kim Howells: Neither the Civil Wrongs/Torts Law nor the Nationality and Entry into Israel Law is a new law, although both have been amended in recent months.
	In July the Knesset approved an amendment to the Civil Wrongs Law which prevents any Palestinian injured by, or suffering any damage from, Israeli military forces from claiming compensation if the Ministry of Defence declare that the incident occurred in a military zone. We are concerned by any legislation which limits Palestinian people's recourse to Israeli courts. We are also concerned about the effect of this law on the accountability of the Israeli military forces.
	Also in July, the Knesset passed an amendment to the Nationality and Entry into Israel Law, allowing Palestinian men over the age of 35 and women over 25 to apply for immigration in the framework of family re-unification. While the July amendment indicates a slight relaxation of the law, we remain concerned about this law and its effects. We have raised these concerns with the Israeli Government on a number of occasions.
	We will continue to monitor these laws and their implementation.

Rwanda

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the decision of Rwanda to grant asylum to General Laurent Nkunda.

Ian Pearson: We understand that Rwanda has not granted asylum to Laurent Nkunda. Our information is that he has been dismissed from the Congolese army but remains in North Kivu province, in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). We have encouraged the DRC authorities, in conjunction with the UN peacekeeping force, to apprehend Nkunda as soon as possible in connection with atrocities committed by units under his command in Bukavu in June 2004 and subsequently. The Congolese authorities are in the process of issuing an international arrest warrant for Nkunda so that he can be arrested if he surfaces outside the DRC.

Sri Lanka

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Government of Sri Lanka on its proposals on the conversion of Buddhists to other religions; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: I have not had any recent discussions with the Government of Sri Lanka on this subject. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is closely monitoring the introduction of legislation seeking to prevent unethical conversions. Both the Government of Sri Lanka and the National Heritage Party (JHU) have published such legislation. However, the Government legislation has not been formally tabled in Parliament and the JHU legislation has made limited progress through the legislative process. On 4 October, the JHU called for the second reading of a separate Bill to amend the constitution by declaring Buddhism the state religion, but this debate was not heard.
	The British high commission in Sri Lanka maintains a regular dialogue on this subject with political leaders, religious groups and other diplomatic missions. Our view is that legislation in this area is inappropriate and that inter-community and inter-religious dialogue is the most constructive way to promote tolerance and co-operation. The British high commissioner in Colombo raised the issue when he met the Sri Lankan Prime Minister, Mahinda Rajapakse, on 20 September.

Sudan

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the UK Government have made to the Government of Sudan in response to reports by the African Union that (a) Sudanese Government security forces have attacked refugee camps near compounds that house AU troops in the Tawilla district of Darfur and (b) attacks have included Government helicopter gunships.

Ian Pearson: We await the results of the African Union's (AU) investigation into these incidents. The UK has issued EU Presidency statements condemning recent incidents in Darfur. My noble Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister for Africa (Lord Triesman) visited the Sudan from 5 to 8 October and raised the security situation in Sudan with the Government of Sudan.

Sudan

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made with deploying to Darfur the military personnel and civilian personnel authorised by the African Union Peace and Security Council on 28 April; whether he expects the African Union to meet its target deployment force by spring 2006; and what support is being provided by the United Nations Mission in Sudan to the African Union.

Ian Pearson: The African Union (AU) have deployed a total of 5,581 military and civilian personnel and 908 civilian police as part of the AU Mission in Sudan's (AMIS) current expansion to over 7,700 personnel. Under current planning, the AU expect to deploy this full force size by the end of October, although this date may be delayed due to other commitments in troop contributing countries, especially for civilian police.
	The United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) liaises closely with AMIS, through the AU Commission Chairperson's Special Representative in Sudan, meetings with the AU in Addis Ababa, through its constant presence and increasing joint activities on the ground in Darfur such as training in policing and operational planning. UNMIS has a liaison staff permanently deployed to the AMIS Headquarters in ElFasher to ensure this support is closely co-ordinated. Additionally, the UN Assistance Cell to the AU, based in Addis Ababa, helps support the AU in planning and providing technical advice for AMIS and works closely with other partners to facilitate the AU Commission's efforts to secure required resources and other support needs for AMIS.

Sudan

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in deploying the United Nations peace support mission to Sudan.

Ian Pearson: Deployment of the UN peace support mission to Sudan (UNMIS) is continuing, with 2,742 military personnel deployed on 5 October, with a further 475 expected to arrive by 12 October. Deployment has been slower than expected due to the rainy season and delays from troop contributing countries. The UN currently expects full deployment of the mandated 10,000 military personnel and up to 715 civilian police by the end of November.

Sudan

David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Arab Union on the situation in Sudan.

Ian Pearson: We hold regular discussions with the African Union (AU) at all levels. Our embassies in Addis Ababa and Khartoum hold regular meetings with the AU, and we have UK observers at the current AU-led Abuja peace talks. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development (Hilary Benn) and my noble Friend the Minister for Africa (Lord Triesman) discussed Sudan with AU Chairperson Konare during their visit to the AU summit in July. They also held discussions with AU representatives during their visits to Sudan in June and October respectively.

Sudan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of Sudan on whether it is adhering to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Ian Pearson: We regularly raise with the Government of Sudan the need to respect human rights and abide by international human rights treaties such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. We hold these discussions both bilaterally and through multilateral forums such as the EU-Sudan Human Rights dialogue.
	We continue to stress to the Government of Sudan the importance of fully implementing the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and the new Interim National Constitution, which make explicit provisions for the protection of human rights. My noble Friend the Minister for Africa (Lord Triesman) did so most recently during his visit to Sudan 58 October.

Swaziland

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreignand Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the representations he has received on the withdrawal of the high commission in Swaziland.

Ian Pearson: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has had one letter from a noble Lord about the closure of the British high commission in Mbabane, Swaziland. We are now represented in Swaziland by an honorary consul in Mbabane. Our high commissioner in Pretoria, right hon. Paul Boateng, will be accredited as non-resident high commissioner to Swaziland.

Uganda

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the constitutional amendment presented to the Ugandan Parliament that would enable President Museveni to rule for life; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: The Ugandan Parliament voted on the third reading of the Constitutional Amendment Bill on 18 August. The vote was 222 in favour, 37 against and 2abstentions. The Bill then received presidential assent on 26 September and is now in force. The Bill included a number of proposals, one of which was to lift the limit of two five year terms for any one President. The issue of lifting the limit on presidential tenure, like other proposed changes to the constitution, was for Ugandans to decide. Our concern was that any changes to the constitution should be made constitutionally and democratically and should carry the confidence of the Ugandan people.

Uganda

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of (a) recent military spending by Uganda and (b) the purposes for which the weaponry acquired is to be used; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: We and other donors endorsed the Ugandan Government's 200405 budget on the basis that allocations for defence were acceptable and affordable in the context of Uganda's development. The current defence budget is just over 2 per cent. of GDP (UGS. 347 billion (US$ 198 million)) and is in line with the Government of Uganda's expenditure in other sectors.
	The Government of Uganda established the Joint Defence Sector Working Group, where donor countries work with the Ugandan Government to discuss implementation of the UK-funded Defence Review, completed at the beginning of 2004. In addition, the Government periodically holds confidential discussions with the Ugandan Government on the classified elements of the defence budget.
	These two mechanisms help ensure that the defence budget is used in line with the recommendations of the 2004 Defence Review.

United States (Deportation)

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many individuals have been deported or otherwise involuntarily transferred from the United States to (a) Middle Eastern and (b) Central Asian countries on flights which have landed in the United Kingdom in each of the last four years.

Ian Pearson: The Government are not aware of the use of their territory or airspace for the purposes of 'extraordinary rendition'. The Government have not received any requests, nor granted any permissions, for the use of UK territory or airspace for such purposes.
	The Government's policy is not to deport or extradite any person to another state where there are substantial grounds to believe that the person will be subject to torture or where there is a real risk that the death penalty will be applied.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Animal Testing (Cosmetics)

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will bring forward legislation to ban the marketing of imported cosmetics which have involved testing on live animals.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Cosmetics (Safety) Regulations 2004 implemented into UK law the 7th Amendment to the Cosmetics Directive on animal testing as follows:
	a ban on 'the testing of finished cosmetic products' on animals in any member state from 11 March 2005;
	a ban on 'testing ingredients or combinations of ingredients' on animals within member states as soon as an alternative method has been published by the EC and, in any case, alternative tests must be developed six years after entry into force of the directive i.e. 11 March 2009 or earlier if a validated alternative test is available. In relation to three tests concerning repeat-dose toxicity, reproductive toxicity and toxikinetics, for which no alternatives are yet under consideration, the deadline will be 10 years after entry into force of the directive, 11 March 2013;
	a total ban on the 'marketing of finished cosmetic products' which have been tested on animals, and a total ban on the 'marketing of cosmetic products the ingredients or combinations of ingredients' of which have been tested on animals, which will operate in the same way as the ingredient test ban described above. The marketing ban will apply no matter where in the world the cosmetics products originate.

Beer Measures

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions he has had with the pub industry about the serving of full pints of beer; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 14 October 2005
	I had a useful meeting with representatives of CAMRA, the British Beer and Pub Association and the Local Authority Co-ordinating Body on Regulatory services (LACORS) about a year ago.
	It did not appear that there is a consensus on how to make progress on this issue, but we are continuing to consider the results of our consultations. We are at present in the course of revising the legislation dealing generally with weights and measures for food, and are aiming to publish a new Consolidated Food Order for consultation in the new year and this will take account of our conclusions on this issue.

Company Statistics

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he collects information about the (a) annual turnover, (b) annual profit, (c) number of staff employed by, (d) rates of growth of turnover, profit or staffing and (e) eligibility for Government grant of businesses which (i) are and (ii) are not registered for VAT.

Barry Gardiner: The Office for National Statistics (ONS) maintains a business register that contains turnover and number of staff employed for all businesses that are registered for VAT/PAYE. ONS also collects information from a sample of businesses in the Annual Business Inquiry such as turnover, employment and purchases that allows calculation of gross values added, net capital expenditure and average employment.
	The Department purchases some of these data, where necessary to help advise Government policy. The Small Business Service runs a separate survey, the Annual Small Business Survey. This collects annual turnover, number of staff employed by, number of staff employed 12 months previously, and expected future employment and turnover. This survey covers a sample of businesses which is not limited to businesses registered for VAT and/or PAYE.
	Eligibility for Government grants is subject to EU state aids rules and depends also on the criteria for each individual Government grant programme or scheme. Government grants to businesses are delivered nationally, regionally and locally and the Department does not keep a central record of how many businesses are eligible for each different available grant.

Correspondence

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 10 October 2005, ref 16862, if he will give a detailed breakdown of the responses he has received in terms of (a) letters, (b) emails, (c) postcards and (d) other from (i) members of the public, (ii) pressure groups, (iii)companies and (iv) others.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department currently handles around 50,000 letters a year and approximately 200,000 emails on a wide range of issues. Further breakdown in the form requested is not available.

EU Competition Law

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the responsibilities of (a) Ofcom and (b) the Office of Fair Trading in implementing EU competition law (i) before and (ii) after 1 May.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Before 1 May 2004, Ofcom had no powers to implement EU competition law while the Office of Fair Trading had certain limited powers to assist the European Commission in carrying out its functions in applying EU competition law.
	On 1 May 2004, the Competition Act 1998 and Other Enactments (Amendment) Regulations 2004/1261 entered into force. These Regulations designated both Ofcom and the Office of Fair Trading as National Competition Authorities pursuant to Article 35 of European Commission Regulation 1/2003 and made a number of amendments to the Competition Act 1998 giving both bodies the power directly to apply EU competition law in addition to UK competition law.

Kyoto Protocol (Border Taxes)

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the merits of using border taxes on countries that have failed to ratify the Kyoto protocol to compensate British firms who incur transitional costs of reducing greenhouse gas emissions under the terms of the Kyoto protocol; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government have no plans to introduce border taxes.

National Minimum Wage

Edward Miliband: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people in Doncaster, North constituency have received the national minimum wage since its introduction.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Reliable figures cannot be produced for the Doncaster, North constituency due to small sample size.
	The DTI estimates that around 130,000 people in theYorkshire and Humber area stood to benefit from the introduction of the national minimum wage in October 1999.
	The DTI has estimated that around 140,000 people in the Yorkshire and Humber area would be covered by the October 2005 up-rating of the national minimum wage. The DTI has based the October 1999 estimate on the Office for National Statistics central estimate of low pay; the 2005 estimate is based on data from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings 2004.

Postal Addresses

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many requests have been received by the Royal Mail for changes in postal addresses in (a) 2004 and (b) 2005; and how many were agreed.

Barry Gardiner: This is an operational matter for the company. The Chief Executive, Adam Crozier, has been asked to reply direct to the hon. Member.

Retail Grocery Trade

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has for changes in legislation to address the issue highlighted in the Competition Report of 2000 on the retail grocery trade.

Gerry Sutcliffe: I have no plans to change legislation in this area. In its report the Competition Commission concluded that the industry was broadly competitive and made no recommendation for legislative change. Competition in the supermarket and grocery sectors is a matter for the independent competition authorities.

Trading Standards

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many trading standards investigations have been carried out in each London borough in the last year for which figures are available.

Gerry Sutcliffe: DTI does not collect specific information on the number of investigations undertaken by trading standards departments. However as part of the National Performance Framework for trading standards, we do ask that they tell us how many complaints from consumers they have dealt with and how many businesses were either inspected or given advice.
	The following data indicates trading standards activity across the 32 London boroughs during 200405the latest year for which data is available.
	
		
			  Number of businesses visited or given advice Number of consumer complaints responded to 
		
		
			 Corporation of London (8) (8) 
			
			 Inner London   
			 Camden 300 1,200 
			 Greenwich 112 1,114 
			 Hackney (8) (8) 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 194 1,067 
			 Islington 283 1,491 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 137 1,371 
			 Lambeth (8) (8) 
			 Lewisham 820 2,224 
			 Southwark n/a 3,000 
			 Tower Hamlets 61 3,001 
			 Wandsworth 620 2,449 
			 Westminster 1,046 3,026 
			
			 Outer London   
			 Barking and Dagenham (8) (8) 
			 Barnet (8) (8) 
			 Bexley 124 3,673 
			 Brent  Harrow 3,480 4,726 
			 Bromley 80 5,026 
			 Croydon 1,448 2,008 
			 Ealing 148 1,363 
			 Enfield 960 3,383 
			 Haringey 183 2,137 
			 Havering 1,254 402 
			 Hillingdon 506 3,480 
			 Hounslow (8) (8) 
			 Kingston-upon-Thames 822 792 
			 Merton 366 1,681 
			 Newham (8) (8) 
			 Redbridge (8) (8) 
			 Richmond-upon-Thames 902 3,067 
			 Sutton 346 3,414 
			 Waltham Forest 1,114 2,434 
		
	
	(8)No data available

Worker Exploitation

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what UK legislation there is to protect workers abroad from exploitation by UK companies.

Gerry Sutcliffe: We actively encourage UK-based international companies which operate in other countries, and which are subject to the laws applicable in those countries to apply high standards of corporate behaviour, including adhering to relevant internationally agreed standards which protect workers' rights.
	The UK has played a leading role in ensuring that the international framework to promote and to tackle abuses of those rights throughout the world is in place, particularly through its work with the International Labour Organisation (ILO), which is the UN specialised agency responsible for developing, promoting and monitoring labour standards. We play an active role in the ILO Committee on Multinational Enterprises and support the promotion and follow-up of the ILO Declaration of Principles Concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy which seeks to enhance the positive social and labour effects of multinational corporations' operations throughout the world.
	We also promote the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, which recommend standards of responsible business conduct for businesses operating in or from the 37 adhering countries and have written to the FTSE 100 companies to raise awareness of these expectations. We have also set out our approach to encouraging environmentally and socially responsible practice internationally in our International Strategic Framework on Corporate Social Responsibility published in March.

DEFENCE

African Peace-building

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role the Department is playing in strengthening African peace-building capabilities.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence contributes to the strengthening of African peace-building capabilities by training and advising various African armed forces in Peace Support operations.
	This is achieved in three ways. Firstly, through UK-based professional training of African officers. Secondly, through four permanently deployed teams training Africans for Peace Support operations, including specific pre-deployment training. These teams are the British Peace Support Team in Kenya, the British Peace Support Team in South Africa, the British Defence Assistance Team in Nigeria, the British Military Assistance and Advisory Team in Ghana and the UK element of the International Military and Advisory Team in Sierra Leone. Thirdly, through our direct support to international training centres in Africa. Examples are the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre in Ghana, the Peace Support Training Centre in Kenya, the Tactical Peace Support Training Centre in Bloemfontein, South Africa and the Jaji Peacekeeping Training Wing in Nigeria. Helping to build such training centres as well as training the trainers has a major multiplier effect.
	In addition to our network of Defence Attaches, around 120 British armed forces personnel are leased in Sub-Saharan Africa to assist in these tasks.

Aircraft Carriers

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  when he expects to make the final contract award for the Royal Navy's new aircraft carriers; and how many aircraft carriers the award will be for;
	(2)  where it is intended to assemble the Royal Navy's new aircraft carriers;
	(3)  what decisions have been taken concerning the allocation of construction work for the Royal Navy's Aircraft Carrier Programme; what decisions have been taken about the number of ship sections involved in the construction; and what decisions have been taken about the allocation of these sections between different shipyards.

Adam Ingram: The decision on the ship build strategy, including assembly, for the two future aircraft carriers (CVF) and any associated contracts has yet to be taken but will form part of our main investment decision on CVF. This will happen when we are confident that the design is right, the contracts are right and we have sufficient understanding of cost, scheduling and risks involved.

Apache Helicopters

Lee Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total cost is of the procurement of AH-64 helicopters for the British Army.

Adam Ingram: The overall value of the contracts for the Apache AH Mkl was approximately 3.9 billion.

Defence Exhibition

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which governments were invited by the Defence Export Services Organisation to participate in the Defence Systems and Equipment International exhibition in September; and which were represented at that exhibition.

Adam Ingram: The information requested can be found on the internet at:
	www.deso.mod.uk/latest.htm

Departmental Expenditure Plans

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what errors have been identified to date in his Department's expenditure plans for 200506 to 200708; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: An error has been identified on page 32, Table 10 (Long Term Projects) of the MOD's Government Expenditure Plans 200506 to 200708 (Cmd 6532) for Project D154 Phase 3 costs. The table incorrectly states the cost as 524 million because costs that properly fall outside the scope of D154 Phase 3 were misattributed and also because of double-counting due to a technical change in accounting treatment. We do not expect D154 Phase 3 costs to exceed 100 million.
	In light of this error, officials are currently reviewing the table for consistency and accuracy. If any further material errors are identified, I will write to the hon. Member and place copies in the Library of the House.

Departmental Priorities

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's highest priorities are for the next 12 months.

John Reid: The highest priorities for the Ministry of Defence are: continued success in our current operational areas and the modernisation of the UK's armed forces as set out in Delivering Security in a Changing World, Future Capabilities (Cm 6269).
	The Public Service Agreement for the Ministry of Defence sets out our specific objectives and performance targets and can be viewed at 2004 Spending Review: Public Service Agreements 20052008 (Cm 6238).

Hercules Crash (Iraq)

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Board of Inquiry into the Hercules crash in Iraq will complete its work; whether its report will go to Ministers before its publication; and when it will be published.

John Reid: holding answer 17 October 2005
	I will release the findings of the Board of Inquiry as soon as the relevant work is complete.

HMS Cygnet

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State forDefence who the purchaser was of the Bird class patrol vessel HMS Cygnet, disposed of by his Department in 1996; and what broker was used in the transaction.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 17 October 2005
	The Ministry of Defence's Disposal Services Agency (DSA) sold the Bird class patrol vessel HMS Cygnet in 1996 to ASL Technics. It was a direct sale using competitive tender procedures.

HMS Intrepid

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what tenders were sought by his Department for the breaking of HMS Intrepid; what responses were received from ship breaking firms based (a) inside and (b) outside the UK; and how many of the bidders were able to demonstrate compliance with the Environment Agency's environmental criteria.

Adam Ingram: 39 companies were invited to tender for ex-HMS Intrepid:
	Able UK Ltd.
	AGS Ltd.
	AWA Refiners Ltd.
	B. P. B. Recycling
	Babcock Rosyth Defence Ltd.
	Belmont Drew Ltd.
	C. K. Metals
	Cronifer UK Ltd.
	Dido Trading S. A.
	Duddon Valley Shipbreakers
	Eckhardt Marine GMBH
	Environ Group Ltd.
	European Metal Recycling Ltd.
	G. D. Metal Recycling Ltd.
	HMS Fearless  Intrepid Association
	J.  G. Metals Group
	J. Fenton  Sons (Contractors) Ltd.
	Leavesley International
	M.  M. Day Ltd.
	M.  W. A. Anthracite Ltd.
	Marlboro Shipbrokers Ltd.
	Marie
	Marine Salvage
	Marine Support  Towage Ltd.
	Messrs Bradley  Ashley
	Metal Merchants UK Ltd.
	Mil-Ver Metal Company Ltd.
	N. V. Van Heyghen
	PAVERA
	R. M. Supplies (Inverkeithing) Ltd.
	RAMCO
	Resyna SL
	Rochdale Metal Recovery Ltd.
	Ship Side Services SL
	Shipbreaking (Queenborough) Ltd.
	Ships Management Ltd.
	Shepherd Offshore Ltd.
	Sims Metals (Wessex) Ltd.
	Wear Dockyard Ltd.
	Of these, only nine companies responded:
	Able UK
	AGS Ltd.
	Belmont Drew Ltd.
	Dido Trading S. A.
	Environ Group Ltd.
	Leavesley International
	Marlboro (Shipbrokers) Ltd.
	N. V. Van Heyghen
	Shepherd Offshore Ltd.
	Of the nine bidders, six firms were based in the UK:
	Able UK
	Belmont Drew Ltd. (intended to decontaminate in UK and break in China)
	Environ Group Ltd. (intended to break in Turkey)
	Leavesley International
	Marlboro (Shipbrokers) Ltd. (intended to break in Lithuania)
	Shepherd Offshore Ltd.
	The remaining three were firms based outside the UK:
	AGS Ltd. (Turkey)
	Dido Trading S. A. (Greece) (intended to break in Turkey)
	N. V. Van Heyghen (Belgium)
	None were able to demonstrate compliance with the necessary criteria.

Iran

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he was first informed that military equipment supplied by Iran may have been used against British soldiers in southern Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

John Reid: I first became aware in early summer 2005 of reports suggesting that military equipment originating in Iran may have been used against British soldiers in Southern Iraq. New types of explosive devices are being usednot just against British Forces, but elsewhere in Iraqand the nature of those devices suggests a connection with Lebanese Hezbollah, which is supported by Iran. We cannot, however be certain of this at the present time, and while we continue to investigate the matter, we will continue to stress to the Iranian authorities the need for non-interference in the internal affairs of Iraq.

Iraq

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the use in theatre of unarmoured and armoured Land Rovers in Iraq.

Adam Ingram: British forces use both armoured and non-armoured Land Rovers in Iraq, the choice of vehicle for a particular operation, patrol or other journey being dependent on the commander's assessment of the nature of the task and the current threat. That threat level is kept under continuous review. If the operational situation requires it, additional protection can beand isprovided.

Joint Combat Aircraft

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to announce the stations at which the Joint Combat Aircraft will be based; and what consultations there have been with local planning authorities prior to such a decision being made regarding (a) noise and (b) other environmental matters.

Adam Ingram: I expect to announce the outcome of the JCA basing study later this year. Ministry of Defence officials have held discussions with relevant local authorities, which have included aircraft noise and environmental matters.

Members' Visits

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what level of security clearance hon. Members must have to be allowed to visit departmental sites.

Don Touhig: Any request from a Member of Parliament to visit a Defence establishment is considered on a case by case basis, taking into account the circumstances of the request. These include, for instance, the timing of the visit, practical issues, the effect on operations and security considerations. Members are not required to hold a security clearance when visiting departmental sites; however, the principle of the need to know applies to the protection of, and access to, defence sites and other sensitive Government assets. Visits are at the discretion of Ministers and, where possible, Members are afforded briefings up to the level of RESTRICTED when visiting MOD establishments. This is a facility MOD Ministers have provided to allow MPs a greater insight into defence issues and to allow them better to serve their constituents.

Military Airfields (Deportation)

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  which military airfields in the United Kingdom are used by aircraft that are transporting individuals who are being deported or otherwise involuntarily transferred from the United States to another country;
	(2)  what records are maintained by his Department of individuals who are deported or otherwise involuntarily transferred from the United States to another country, in instances where they are transported on flights which land in the United Kingdom.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence has not authorised, nor received any requests for, use of UK airspace, airports or air stations for this purpose.

Nuclear Disarmament

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's policy is on nuclear disarmament.

John Reid: The UK is committed to disarmament as set out under Article VI of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation treaty and has taken a number of steps towards that goal. Among many measures, we have reduced the total explosive power of our nuclear forces by over 70 per cent. since the end of the cold war. The UK is firmly committed to multilateral negotiations towards mutual, balanced and verifiable reductions in nuclear weapons and has taken a number of other proactive steps in the spirit of our obligations. When we are satisfied with progress towards our goal of the global elimination of nuclear weapons we will ensure that the remaining British nuclear weapons are included in negotiations.

Procurement Review

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many official submissions on topics and issues to be taken into account have been received, since his Department first announced a procurement review on 26 August; and how many of these have been submitted by (a) industry and business, (b) trade unions, (c) non-governmental organisations and (d) the general public.

Adam Ingram: Since the announcement of the work on the Defence Industrial Strategy on the 26 August, the Ministry of Defence has received:
	16 formal submissions representing the views of individual companies;
	three letters expressing the views of trade associations;
	five contributions from members of the general public.
	These do not include informal exchanges (such as those conducted via e-mail) with industry and trade associations around the DIS process, of which there have also been a large number.
	Ministers and officials have also had the opportunity to hear at first hand the views of industryboth at the individual company and wider sectoral levelduring the numerous meetings that have been conducted over the same period.
	Although Ministers and officials have met with trade union representatives on a number of occasions to discuss the DIS, no formal inputs have been received from them as yet.
	More information can be found on the Defence Industrial Strategy website which includes a public forum, and can be found at http://www.mod.uk/issues/industry/

QinetiQ

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether surplus research and related funding from the Department to QinetiQ can be used for commercial purposes.

Adam Ingram: There is no surplus research and related funding. However, as with all other external suppliers, if QinetiQ makes a profit on Ministry of Defence-tasked work it is able to use this for commercial purposes. Similarly, the ownership of the Intellectual Property generated by QinetiQ, and other research providers, is normally invested in the company carrying out the research. As such (subject to national security implications), research providers may use the knowledge generated by them for wider commercial purposes, furthering national wealth creation.

RAF Innsworth

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent action he has taken to secure (a) a tenant and (b) a purchaser for the RAF Innsworth site; and if he will make a statement.

Don Touhig: holding answer 17 October 2005
	The RAF Innsworth site has not been declared surplus to MOD requirements. Were it to be so, Defence Estates (DE) would first offer the site to other Government Departments and agencies by means of English Partnerships' (EP) register. This is done before considering the former owner position or offering the property for sale on the open market. Against this background it would be premature to seek out potential tenants or purchasers.

Royal Irish Regiment

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Home Service part-time members of the Royal Irish Regiment have (a) up to five, (b) more than five, (c) more than 10, (d) more than 15, (e) more than 20, (f) more than 25 and (g) more than 30 years' service.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 14 October 2005
	The length of service for Royal Irish (Home Service) part-time officers and soldiers (as at 1 August 2005) is as follows (data subjected to rounding):
	
		
			 Years Number 
		
		
			 0 to 5 130 
			 5 to 10 270 
			 10 to 15 410 
			 15 to 20 160 
			 20 to 25 90 
			 25 to 30 60 
			 30+ 50

Royal Irish Regiment

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to announce the details of the redundancy and resettlement packages to be made available to full-time and part-time members of the Home Service Battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 14 October 2005
	We have now received responses from several of the Northern Ireland political parties in response to our invitation for views on how those Home Service officers and soldiers currently serving might, should they wish, contribute to the UK's future Defence commitments, and on redundancy and resettlement provision that might be made for those who leave the armed forces. These views are currently being considered as part of our on-going work to finalise an appropriate package.
	We recognise that members of the Home Service Battalions are anxious to know the outcome of this work and our planning is continuing as a matter of urgency. A substantive announcement will be made as soon as this work is complete, but I cannot give a date at this stage.

UK Maritime Industrial Strategy

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what effects he expects collaboration with the French on the future aircraft carriers to have on the UK's maritime industrial strategy.

Adam Ingram: Work is continuing in consultation with industry to develop a Maritime Industrial Strategy (MIS) with the aim of improving industrial performance, quality and efficiency, reducing MOD costs and determining how best to sustain the UK's naval maritime industrial capability and in particular those elements deemed important under the emerging Defence Industrial Strategy.
	Given that both we and France are embarking on major, complex carrier procurement projects, we are examining areas of mutual benefit and opportunities to deliver economies. Co-operation through industry-to-industry links may offer potential benefits to both sides and they are still assessing what these might be. It is for industry to put forward proposals which will be judged on their merits and in light of national policies.

Waiting Times

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps are taken to monitor treatment waiting times for servicemen and women who are referred from military primary care to NHS consultants.

Don Touhig: Servicemen or women can be referred from military primary care to NHS consultants via two routes. The first is through Ministry of Defence Hospital Units (MDHUs), where waiting times are monitored using contracts held by Director Healthcare, part of the Defence Medical Services Department.
	Alternatively, if a patient has been treated in a non-MDHU hospital, Single Service primary care organisations monitor waiting times either centrally or at the individual practice level.

Welfare

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in how many countries the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes provide welfare.

Don Touhig: The Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes (NAAFI) currently provide welfare services in Cyprus, Germany, Gibraltar, Falkland Islands, Ascension Island, Brunei, Belize, Iraq, Afghanistan, Kenya, The Balkans (Kosovo and Bosnia), as well as the United Kingdom.
	NAAFI additionally provides welfare services on board HM Ships, and on exercises worldwide.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Housing Benefit

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many recipients of housing benefit had been claiming for (a) less than a year and (b) more than five years in each year since 1997, broken down by region;
	(2)  what the average duration of claim for recipients of housing benefit was in each year since 1997, broken down by region.

James Plaskitt: The information is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Jobcentres (Opening Times)

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the Jobcentres in England for which opening times and numbers of days per week open were cut or restricted in 200405; what such cuts or restrictions are planned for (a) 200506 and (b) 200607; what the reduction in opening times is in each case; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. She will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Lesley Strathie to Mr. Laws, dated 18 October 2005
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning the opening times for Jobcentres in England. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	The majority of Jobcentre Plus offices are open for standard hours. Some smaller offices open for reduced hours. Customers have increased access to Jobcentre Plus services outside these hours through the internet and telephone.
	The opening hours of many offices changed during 200405 as we rolled out the new Jobcentre Plus network. Such changes will continue in different localities into 2006 as that process completes. Office opening hours form part of our local service delivery plans and we will engage with key stakeholders about any variations before these plans are implemented.
	The more detailed information you requested is not collected centrally and I regret that I am unable to give a more substantive reply.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions why those signing on for jobseeker's allowance will not receive reimbursement of travel expenses when required to travel following the closure of a local job centre.

James Plaskitt: holding answer Friday 14 October 2005
	The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. She will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Lesley Strathie to Mr. Michael Fallon, dated 18 October 2005
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning reimbursement of travel expenses to Jobseeker's Allowance customers following the closure of a Jobcentre. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus. There are long established rules for reimbursing Jobseeker's Allowance customers for attending a Work Focused Interviews, principally where the interview does not fall on their normal signing day. For normal fortnightly attendance to sign-on, customers are expected to meet the cost of their journey to the office. Where the closure of an office means customers having to travel over an hour to the nearest office we will consider if postal signing is appropriate.
	We are investing in modern, welcoming offices to provide a single point of access to Jobcentre Plus services. Previously, a Jobseeker's Allowance customer may have had to visit a Jobcentre for job vacancies and to start a claim and to visit a social security office to sort out the payment of benefit. The new service brings this together in an integrated, personal service for customers.
	In planning the new network of Jobcentre Plus offices, local managers take into account many factors including population spread, availability and cost of public transport, and the distance between offices. We are locating the new offices where there are good transport links.
	Inevitably as the office network changes, there will be some customers who find they have to travel further. Jobcentre Plus is actively working with local partners to ensure these hard to reach communities have access to services. We are often able to provide outreach facilities, ensuring access to job vacancies, advice and information through third party premises.
	Customers are now using our offices differently. More of our face-to-face customer contact is on an appointment basis and information on job vacancies is readily available by telephone and internet. This enables staff in our offices to focus on those customers in greatest need of support to return to work.
	I hope this is helpful in explaining the changes we are making and our policy on reimbursing customers' travel expenses.

Parliamentary Questions

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he will answer the question tabled by the right hon. Member for Birkenhead on 11 July 2005, ref. 12146.

James Plaskitt: An answer was given on 19 July 2005, Official Report, column 1644W.

HEALTH

Abortions

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many abortions were undertaken by (a) prostaglandins and (b) dilation and evacuation in the last period for which figures are available, broken down by weeks' gestation at which the procedure was undertaken.

Caroline Flint: This information is contained in table8 of the Department's statistical bulletin 2005/11 Abortion Statistics, England and Wales: 2004, which is available on the Department's website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/4/ll/75/74/04117574.pdf.
	Copies are also available in the Library.

Abortions

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many doctors undertook (a) more than 1,000, (b) more than 500 and (c) more than 100 abortions in the last year for which figures are available.

Caroline Flint: This information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Abortions

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate her Department has made of the cost to the NHS of treating physical and psychological illness arising from termination of pregnancy in the last four years for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The Department does not collect this information and no estimate of cost has been made.
	Abortion is a very safe procedure and complications are uncommon. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists' evidence-based clinical guideline, The Care of Women Requesting Induced Abortion states that any woman considering an abortion must have all the facts, including accurate information about possible complications, so that she can make an informed decision.

Abortions

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many women have had terminations beyond the 24 week time limit in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many abortions were carried out in each of the last five years;
	(3)  how many abortions were performed on girls under the age of 16 years in each of the last five years.

Caroline Flint: The information, up to and including 2001 data, is contained in the annual Office for National Statistics publication, Abortion Statistics, series AB; Office for National Statistics and, from 2002, Department of Health, Statistical Bulletins 2003/23, 2004/14, 2005/11; copies of which are available in the Library and on the Department's website at www.dh.gov.uk.

Ambulance Service

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes there have been since November 2003 in the information that is collected centrally by her Department on performance by ambulance trusts against response time targets; and if she will make it her policy to pass on parliamentary questions from hon. Members concerning the operation of ambulance trusts directly to those trusts in cases where her Department does not hold the information centrally.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 18 July 2005
	The only change made since November 2003 to the data collected is that, from 1 October 2004, information about category B and C emergency calls is collected separately; prior to this date category B and C calls were grouped together. This published information is used to form the basis of replies to hon. and right hon. Members' questions. We always try to be as helpful to Members as possible but, on occasions, this may mean indicating that information is not held centrally. It is always opento hon. and right hon. Members to pursue queries about individual organisations with those organisations themselves direct.

Breast-feeding

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of women have breast-fed their babies in each of the last five years for up to (a) a week, (b) a month, (c) six months and (d) a year.

Caroline Flint: The infant feeding survey 2000 recorded the prevalence of breast-feeding for infants at ages up to nine months for England and Wales. This information is shown in the table.
	
		
			 Age of infants Percentage 
		
		
			 One week 57 
			 Six weeks 54 
			 Four months 29 
			 Six months 22 
			 Nine months 14 
		
	
	Figures for the prevalence of breast-feeding each year since 2000 are not available. However, the 2005 infant feeding survey is currently under way and results are expected to be published in 2007.

Breast-feeding

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what her Department's guidance on the optimum period for breast-feeding is; and whether she plans to submit this guidance to expert review.

Caroline Flint: The Department recommends exclusive breast-feeding for the first six months of an infant's life. This is in line with advice provided by the scientific advisory committee on nutrition (SACN), following the World Health Organisation's (WHO) review on the optimal duration of exclusive breast-feeding in 2001.
	The Department also recommends that breast-feeding, and/or breast milk substitutes, if used, should continue beyond the first six months along with appropriate types and amounts of solid foods. Mothers who are unable to, or choose not to, follow these recommendations should be supported to optimise their infants' nutrition. There are currently no plans to undertake a further expert review.

Cancelled Operations

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cancelled operations there have been at the Eastbourne district general hospital in each of the last 12 months.

Caroline Flint: Data on cancelled operations is not collected at hospital level. However, the data is available for national health service trusts. Data is shown in the table for East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust, which manages Eastbourne district hospital, for the last four quartersmonthly data is not collected. The data shown and collected is the number of operations cancelled at the last minute rather than the total number of cancelled operations.
	
		East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust: last minute cancellations for non-clinical reasons
		
			  Quarter Strategic health authority code Number 
		
		
			 200506 1 Q19 188 
			 200405 4 Q19 284 
			 200405 3 Q19 79 
			 200405 2 Q19 144 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures taken from cancelled operations for non clinical reasons, NHS organisations in England
	The data is available on the Department's website at:
	http://www.performance.doh.gov.uk/hospitalactivity/data_requests/cancelled_operations.htm

Childhood Obesity

Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of children in the South Swindon area are estimated to be obese.

Caroline Flint: The Department does not hold this information in the format requested.

Clostridium Difficile

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action her Department is taking to reduce cases of Clostridium difficile within the North West London Hospitals Trust; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The Department has taken no action as this is a matter for the local national health service.
	However, action taken to counter the incidence of health care associated infections in general will help reduce all infections, including Clostridium difficile associated diarrhoea. Specific national initiatives for Clostridium difficile include reviewing the guidance on dealing with outbreaks and adding it to Saving lives: a delivery programme to reduce healthcare associated infections including MRSA.

Delayed Transfers of Care

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many delayed transfers of care there were at (a) Eastbourne district general hospital and (b) the East Sussex Hospital Trust in each of the last 12 months.

Caroline Flint: Data for delayed transfers of care is not collected at hospital level, but by national health service trust. Data for East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust, which manages Eastbourne district general hospital, is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Delayed transfers of care 
		
		
			 2004  
			 October 55 
			 November 53 
			 December 60 
			   
			 2005  
			 January 78 
			 February 64 
			 March 47 
			 April 50 
			 May 63 
			 June 82 
			 July 81 
			 August 64 
			 September 66 
		
	
	This data is taken from delayed transfers of care at East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust obtained from the SITREPs collection. These figures are based on a snapshot taken on the last typical Thursday in the month.

East Sussex Chief Executive

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the terms were of the severance package agreed for the outgoing chief executive of East Sussex Hospitals Trust.

Caroline Flint: This information requested is not held by the Department. This is an employment matter between the trust and its former employee. Surrey and Sussex strategic health authority, the local headquarters of the national health service, has advised that the trust intends to publish the details of this package in the next annual accounts.

Emergency Contraception

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many prescriptions for emergency contraception were issued in the Southend primary care trust area in the last year for which figures are available.

Caroline Flint: During the financial year 200405, there were 618 prescriptions for emergency hormonal contraception written by general practitioners and nurse prescribers within primary care in Southend-on-Sea, excluding hospital clinics.
	Information about the number of prescriptions issued by family planning clinics managed by Southend-on-Sea primary care trust may be found in table 12 of NHS Contraceptive Services, England: 200304, which is available in the Library and on the Department's website at www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/09/00/22/0409022.pdf. Data for 200405 will be published on 28 October.

Emergency Contraception

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many prescriptions of the morning-after pill there were in (a) Essex and (b) Bedford and Hertfordshire strategic health authority in the last 10 years for which figures are available, broken down by age of recipient.

Caroline Flint: The available information is shown in the tables.
	
		Number of prescriptions written for hormonal post-coital contraceptives by general practitioners and nurse prescribers(9)
		
			  Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire strategic health authority (SHA)  Essex SHA 
		
		
			 2001 13,725 12,702 
			 2002 12,361 11,678 
			 2003 11,622 10,998 
			 2004 10,448 10,408 
		
	
	(9)Data by age is not available
	
		Occasions on which hormonal post-coital contraceptives dispensed at family planning clinics
		
			  Bedfordshire and  Hertfordshire SHA Essex SHA 
			 Age 200203 200304 200203 200304 
		
		
			 under 15 71 88 311 218 
			 15 195 224 420 530 
			 1619 1,238 1,429 2,144 2,161 
			 2024 799 564 1,086 1,110 
			 2534 418 321 544 465 
			 35 and over 130 85 189 162 
			 Total 2,851 2,711 4,694 4,646

GP Practices

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many single-handed GP practices there are in (a) England, (b) Greater London and (c) Edmonton; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The latest information available on the number of single-handed practices, as at 30 September 2004, are as follows:
	
		
			 Area Number 
		
		
			 England and Wales 2,046 
			 London 491 
			 Enfield Primary Care Trust 23

Health Services (Investment)

Andrew Pelling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the percentage change of investment in real terms in (a) mental health services and (b) health services as a whole was between 19992000 and 200203.

Rosie Winterton: Information is not available in the requested format. Information on the increase of the hospital and community health services (HCHS) budget and its proportion spent on mental health services between 19992000 and 200203 is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Gross expenditure in cash terms ( million) Percentage change of investment in real terms 
		
		
			 19992000   
			 Mental health 3,411 34.8 
			 HCHS 27,633 27 
			
			 200203   
			 Mental health 4,598 34.8 
			 HCHS 35,087 27 
		
	
	Source:
	HCHS.

Influenza

John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if she will increase the number of treatment courses of Tamiflu above 25 per cent. of the population; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  on what date the Government placed their contract for their order of Tamiflu; how many treatment courses have been received; and when she expects delivery of treatment courses for 25 per cent. of the population to be completed.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 13 October 2005
	The contract for the order of 14.6 million treatment courses of Tamiflu was placed in March. Deliveries began in August and our delivery schedule indicates that we should have received 2.5 million treatment courses by the end of October, and that our stockpile will be complete by September 2006.
	We have purchased enough antivirals to treat the 25 per cent. of the population who may become ill. This figure was based upon the best available advice. We do not currently expect that the order of Tamiflu will be increased. Antiviral provision is only one element of our strategy to deal with pandemic influenza. Other measures include providing guidance for health care workers, and the public, and working hard at accelerating vaccine production. As with all our contingency planning, we will continue to review this decision in light of any further information received.

Mental Health

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much of her Department's funding is dedicated to supporting mental health; and what plans there are to increase the funding committed to mental health.

Rosie Winterton: Information is not available in the requested format. Revenue allocations are made to primary care trusts (PCTs) based on the relative needs of their populations. It is for PCTs to determine how to use the funding allocated to them to commission services to meet the health care needs of their local populations including mental health services. In the financial year in which the national service framework for mental health was published, 19992000, reported gross expenditure on mental health services as part of the hospital and community health services (HCHS) budget was 4,067 million. A further 696 million was spent as part of the personal social services (PSS) budget. By 200304, HCHS expenditure on mental health had risen to 5,088 million and PSS expenditure to 944 million. These figures are in 200304 prices and they do not include spending on people with mental health problems seen solely in primary care.

Mental Health

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to improve the (a) quality and (b) quantity of (i) therapeutic and (ii) recreational activities for patients on acute psychiatric wards; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The Department is continuing to implement the national mental health workforce strategy (2004) in order to increase the numbers of staff working in mental health settings and develop their skills further. We are also continuing to encourage service providers to widen the skills mix by supplementing the existing professional roles with new ones such as support, time and recovery workers.
	The national service framework for mental health (1999) and the mental health policy implementation guide on adult acute inpatient care (2002) requires a flexible range of appropriate therapeutic and recreational resources and activities to be available in mental health in-patient settings. The latter requires the creation and maintenance of a therapeutic activity milieu to include evening and weekend activities and opportunities both on and off the ward which may include educational, social, daily living, artistic, recreational and leisure activities. The national minimum standards for general adult services in psychiatric intensive care units and low secure environments (2002) requires all patients to have access to fresh air and secure external space and space for regular exercise with appropriate supervision.

Midwives/Nurses

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to give midwives more flexibility in how and when they work.

Liam Byrne: The Improving Working Lives standard makes it clear that every member of staff in the national health service, including midwives, is entitled to work in an organisation which demonstrates its commitment to more flexible working conditions. It is for employers and staff to agree on flexible working patterns that meet the needs of individuals, while continuing to ensure the delivery of high quality patient care. Further information is available from Improving Working Lives in Midwifery: a guide for midwives and managers. A copy is available in the Library.

Midwives/Nurses

David Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many applications were made in 200405 for the retraining of qualified nurses wishing to return to the nursing profession after a career break; and how many training places were available.

Liam Byrne: The Department no longer collects this information, but in the previous five years, 18,000 former nurses, midwives and health visitors returned to work in the national health service.

Oestrogen

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of whether oestrogen is present in the food chain; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: Oestrogen is a naturally occurring sex hormone in animals. Consequently, it will be present in food products of animal origin.

Trust Deficits

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the financial deficits are in the (a) East Sussex Hospital Trust, (b) Eastbourne Downs Primary Care Trust and (c) East Sussex County Healthcare Trust; and what they were at the same point in the last financial year.

Caroline Flint: The latest year for which audited financial data is available is 200405. The table shows the 200304 and 200405 final outturn figures for East Sussex Hospital Trust, Eastbourne Downs Primary Care Trust (PCT), and East Sussex County Healthcare Trust.
	
		000
		
			  Final outturn 
			 Organisation 200304 200405 
		
		
			 East Sussex Hospital Trust -1,787 -4,983 
			 Eastbourne Downs PCT -3,533 -964 
			 East Sussex County Healthcare Trust -1,025 9 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.200405 Figures are provisional until signed off by the National Audit Office/chief executive.
	2.Final outturn is under or overspend against revenue resource limit for PCTs and surplus or deficit for NHS trusts.

Unborn Children

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice her Department gives about the earliest point in its development when an unborn child will experience pain; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: Concerns that the fetus might experience pain during investigative or therapeutic procedures or procedures to terminate a pregnancy prompted the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) to examine this issue. The RCOG's report (1997) concluded that before 26 weeks gestation the nervous system has not developed sufficiently to allow the fetus to experience pain.

Vaccines

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children have been given (a) the single MMR vaccine and (b) the three separate vaccines in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Caroline Flint: Information about the uptake of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) immunisations and other childhood immunisations is published annually in the Department's statistical bulletins. The latest bulletin, NHS Immunisation Statistics, England: 200405, is available in the Library and on the Department's website at:
	http://www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/Publications/PublicationsStatistics/PublicationsStatisticsArticle/fs/en? CONTENT_ID=4119649chk=r6rlW4.
	Quarterly figures on MMR Uptake from April 2005 to June 2005 are available on the Health Protection Agency website at:
	http://www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics_az/vaccination/cover_sha.htm.
	The Department does not routinely collect information on uptake of single vaccines.

TREASURY

Child Trust Fund Vouchers

Julie Morgan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) 250 and (b) 500 child trust fund vouchers have been converted into accounts in (i)England and (ii) Wales.

Ivan Lewis: All children eligible for the child trust fund receive a 250 voucher. Children from low income families receive an additional 250 paid directly into their child trust fund account when the family's child tax credit award has been finalised. Information on the number of child trust fund vouchers issued and the number of accounts opened, including the latest data as at 31 August, is published quarterly on the HMRC website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/child_trust_funds/child-trust-funds.htm
	Data at a sub-UK level would be available only at disproportionate cost.

Civil Service Personnel

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the planned reduction of civil service personnel has begun.

John Healey: In Budget 2005 the Chancellor announced that Departments have delivered the first 12,500 reduction in civil service posts, towards the Government's planned gross reduction of 84,000 civil service posts by 2008. Departments will report on further progress in their Autumn Performance Reports.

Correspondence

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Yeovil of 25 April 2005 on behalf of a constituent, Mrs. Sally Noel, regarding her request for a public inquiry, and to subsequent letters written by the hon. Member on this issue on 24 June, 9 August, 6 September and 16 September.

Ivan Lewis: I have already done so.

Correspondence

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Paymaster General will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) of 1 August, regarding Chard Neighbourhood Nurseries Initiative.

Dawn Primarolo: I have done so.

Correspondence

Graham Allen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his Department's policy to copy hon. Members in on correspondence arising from an intervention by hon. Members on behalf of their constituents.

Dawn Primarolo: It is the usual practice of Treasury Ministers and their officials to copy to hon. Members correspondence relating to their constituencies and their constituents. Where it is appropriate to do so, the letters concerned are also deposited in the Library of the House,
	Following the debate on tax credits which the hon. Gentleman secured on 7 June in Westminster Hall, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) wrote to a number of individuals whose cases had been raised in the House. Those letters should have been copied to the hon. Members concerned, including the hon. Gentleman. Iunderstand that they were not. I apologise for this oversight on the part of HMRC.

Departmental Rebranding

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been spent on rebranding in (a) his Department and (b) related agencies in each of the last five years.

John Healey: For the Treasury and National Savings and Investments, I refer respectively to the answers given by the then Financial Secretary (Ruth Kelly) to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 12 February 2004, Official Report, column 1553W, and to the hon. Member for Buckingham (John Bercow) on 26 February 2002, Official Report, column 1209W. Neither the Treasury nor NSI has incurred any expenditure on rebranding in the intervening years. For the Chancellor's other departments and their agencies, the figures are set out in the following table.
	
		000
		
			  200001 200102 200203 200304 200405 
		
		
			 HM Revenue and Customs (10) 1,096 749 481 501 
			 Office for National Statistics nil nil nil 122 53 
			 Royal Mint nil nil nil nil 10 
			 Government Actuary's Department nil 33 nil nil nil 
			 Valuation Office Agency nil nil nil nil nil 
			 Debt Management Office nil nil nil nil nil 
			 Office of Government Commerce nil nil nil 15 nil 
			 OGCbuying.solutions (11) nil nil nil 102 
		
	
	(10)Branding spend for HM Revenue and Customs prior to 200102 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	(11)OGCbuying.solutions only came into existence in 2001.

Departmental Vehicles

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many vehicles for which the Department is responsible are fitted with retreaded tyres.

John Healey: The Treasury do not own any vehicles. For information on the use of retread tyres in vehicles provided to the Department by the Government Car and Despatch Agency I refer the hon. Member to the letter of 11 October 2005 which he received from the chief executive of the GCDA, reference UIN15087 and UIN15088. Copies of this letter are available in the Library.

Devolved Administrations (Funding Formula)

Lembit �pik: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer
	(1)  what plans his Department has to reform the Barnett formula of funding for the devolved administrations;
	(2)  what assessment his Department has made of alternative systems of funding for the devolved administrations; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: The Government keep all aspects of public expenditure under review. However the Government have no plans to replace the Barnett formula. The formula is updated on a regular basis to reflect the ONS mid-year estimates of population and revised comparability factors. The Government's funding policies for the devolved administrations were set out in the updated Statement of Funding Policy published by the Treasury in July 2004.

Earnings Statistics

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the (a) number and (b) proportion of (i) women and (ii) men in work who had earnings below the lower earnings limit in each year since 199293.

Dawn Primarolo: The number and proportions of individuals earning below the lower earnings limit is provided in the table.
	
		
			
			  Weekly lower earnings limit () Total (thousand) Males (thousand) Females (thousand) Percentage of males earning below the lower earning limit(12) Percentage of females earning below the lower earning limit(13) 
		
		
			 199495 57 398 76 322 0.7 3.1 
			 199596 58 391 76 315 0.7 2.9 
			 199697 61 459 101 358 0.9 3.3 
			 199798 62 841 180 661 1.5 6.0 
			 199899 64 801 173 628 1.4 5.6 
			 19992000 66 745 153 591 1.3 5.2 
			 200001 67 693 153 540 1.2 4.6 
			 200102 72 641 147 494 1.2 4.2 
			 200203 75 668 161 507 1.3 4.3 
			 200304 77 624 158 466 1.3 3.9 
			 200405 79 581 139 442 1.1 3.7 
		
	
	(12)The number of males earning below the lower earning limit as a percentage of all male employees.
	(13)The number of females earning below the lower earning limit as a percentage of all female employees.
	Estimates in the table have been provided by the office for National Statistics and UK estimates prior to 1994 are not available.
	The significant increase in the 199798 estimates is due to improvements in data sampling. Since spring 1997 questions on earnings in the LFS are asked of respondents receiving their first and fifth (final) interviews. Prior to this they were only asked of people in their fifth interview.
	The estimates are based on gross weekly earnings in the main job reported in the labour force survey. Figures represent a snapshot and are seasonally unadjustedindividuals' earnings may vary during the year.

ECOFIN

Keith Vaz: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment ECOFIN has made of the joint paper from the UK, Austrian and Finnish presidencies.

Ivan Lewis: The written memorandum published today (18 October) sets out detail of the ECOFIN discussion, including on this item.

Electorate Size

Tim Farron: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which English constituencies experienced the greatest decrease in electorate below the age of 25 years between 1997 and 2005 in (a) numerical and (b) percentage terms, listed in descending order.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell to Mr. Tim Farron, dated 18 October 2005
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your question concerning decreases in the electorate below the age of 25. (19185)
	Only very limited age information is collected on electoral returns. Information is collected and collated on the number of attainers, i.e. those aged 16 and 17 who will be entitled to vote when they reach 18. Information is also collected on the elderly (because of exemption from jury duty), though these data are not collated centrally.
	Therefore I am not able to supply the information you have requested.

Financial Services Authority

Gregory Barker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total amount of money spent on entertainment at the Financial Services Authority has been in each year since 1997.

Ivan Lewis: This is a matter for the FSA. Iunderstand that the Chairman will be writing to the hon. Member.

HM Revenue and Customs

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the rate of staff turnover was in Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs in each of the last two years in each region and country of the UK; and what the rates were for staff working on tax credits.

Dawn Primarolo: The rates of staff turnover within HMRC over the last two years are shown by government region in the following table. The rates for staff working in the Tax Credit Office are also shown, along with the geographical division of that office.
	
		Percentage
		
			 Government Region 200405 200304 
		
		
			 East 5.10 4.84 
			 East Midlands 5.22 4.62 
			 London 5.36 4.77 
			 North East 6.53 4.72 
			 Northern Ireland 2.89 2.69 
			 North West 5.08 4.78 
			 Scotland 8.31 6.47 
			 South East 5.38 5.54 
			 South West 5.54 5.72 
			 Wales 4.71 4.57 
			 West Midlands 6.70 6.46 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 4.91 4.36 
			 Total 5.71 5.07 
		
	
	
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 Tax Credit Office (NW) 5.21 
			 Tax Credit Office (NI) 1.87 
			 Tax Credit Office (NW) 5.05 
			 Tax Credit Office (NI) 0.00

HM Revenue and Customs

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of days were lost through sickness absence in Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs in each of the last two years in each region and country of the UK; and what the percentage was for staff working on tax credits.

Dawn Primarolo: Cabinet Office produce annual statistics for all Government Departments based on regional data which can be accessed via the civil service website. Data for 2004 will be published later this year. I also refer to the reply I gave on 10 January 2005, PQ127W detailing the sickness absence figures for the seven years to 2003 in Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise.
	The average number of working days lost in 2003 for staff working in the Tax Credit Office was 16.86.

HM Revenue and Customs

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many incidents of violence against staff working in Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs have been reported in each of the last two years in each region and country of the UK expressed as a ratio of whole time equivalent employees; and how many related to staff working on tax credits.

Dawn Primarolo: Combined figures have been collated for incidents of violence against staff for Inland Revenue and Customs  Excise departments in each of the last two years.
	
		
			  Verbal/written threats Physical attacks on staff 
		
		
			 200304 715 73 
			 200405 1,302 92 
			 200506 (Q1) 340 21 
		
	
	
		Staff figures
		
			 Full-time equivalent staff in post at Total departments 
		
		
			 1 April 2003 98,130 
			 1 April 2004 98,280 
			 1 April 2005 97,074 
		
	
	Of the total number of threats and attacks on staff reported, the following numbers related to staff working on tax credits:
	
		
			  Verbal and written threats and physical attacks on tax credits staff 
		
		
			 200304 201 
			 200405 577 
			 200506 (Q1) 187 
		
	
	It is not possible to provide numbers of staff working solely on tax credits. Staff deal with tax credit issues in many operational areas (e.g. in Enquiry or Contact Centres) but may also deal with other types of work. Threats and attacks against such staff are included in the above figures.

Identity Card Scheme

Ben Wallace: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether a budget overrun for the identity card scheme will be underwritten by his Department.

John Healey: The Government announced it would proceed with the ID cards scheme in November 2003. At the time it was agreed that all costs will be met from existing departmental budgets and charging. This remains the case, as the Home Secretary reiterated to the House on Thursday 13 October 2005.

Income-related Benefits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost of estimating tax liabilities for those over state pension age applying for income-related benefits.

Dawn Primarolo: No such estimate is available.

IT Projects (Gateway Reviews)

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the Government's plan for publishing Gateway reviews on IT projects.

John Healey: The Government have no plans for publishing Gateway reviews on IT projects. However, it does not operate a blanket exemption for Gateway information. Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 each request for information is considered on a case-by-case basis and the public interest test is carefully considered in each case.

London (Population)

Jon Cruddas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the population of (a) London and (b) each London borough has been in each of the last 10 years.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell to Mr. Jon Cruddas, dated 18 October 2005
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your question concerning the population in London and each London Boroughs over the last ten years. (19157)
	Please find attached a table showing the estimated population for Greater London, each London Borough, and the City of London from 1995 to 2004.
	
		Total population, London and each London borough, mid-1995 to mid-2004
		
			  1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 
		
		
			 Greater London 6,913,100 6,974,400 7,014,800 7,065,500 7,153,900 
			   
			 City of London 5,500 5,600 5,700 5,700 6,600 
			 Barking and Dagenham 157,400 157,300 158,300 161,000 162,400 
			 Barnet 299,000 303,000 304,600 308,300 313,500 
			 Bexley 218,500 217,700 215,700 216,300 217,500 
			 Brent 248,400 252,000 255,300 259,900 260,300 
			 Bromley 290,000 291,700 293,100 291,700 294,900 
			 Camden 182,500 186,300 186,200 183,900 190,000 
			 Croydon 326,800 329,400 330,900 333,000 332,100 
			 Ealing 288,500 292,800 294,000 296,300 302,300 
			 Enfield 262,800 265,000 268,400 268,900 272,700 
			 Greenwich 209,300 209,800 211,200 212,300 212,200 
			 Hackney 192,900 193,100 191,400 194,700 199,100 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 153,500 155,000 155,100 155,500 160,600 
			 Haringey 208,900 211,600 215,100 216,600 218,600 
			 Harrow 207,000 207,200 206,900 206,700 207,900 
			 Havering 227,600 227,100 226,000 223,600 225,700 
			 Hillingdon 240,100 242,000 242,900 243,600 145,100 
			 Hounslow 203,700 206,000 210,100 212,400 214,300 
			 Islington 173,000 174,700 175,700 177,900 175,700 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 140,600 141,100 142,100 143,100 147,700 
			 Kingston Upon Thames 137,800 139,200 141,300 143,800 146,000 
			 Lambeth 257,200 259,700 259,900 263,800 266,800 
			 Lewisham 240,400 243,100 243,900 247,200 250,300 
			 Merton 177,700 180,600 181,700 182,400 185,100 
			 Newham 228,000 229,900 231,000 235,000 240,500 
			 Redbridge 228,700 232,800 235,000 236,000 238,100 
			 Richmond Upon Thames 166,600 168,700 170,000 169,900 172,800 
			 Southwark 236,900 236,600 239,000 242,200 247,900 
			 Sutton 174,200 175,700 177,000 177,900 179,400 
			 Tower Hamlets 175,200 180,300 184,800 187,900 193,500 
			 Waltham Forest 220,400 220,000 219,800 222,300 221,100 
			 Wandsworth 259,900 261,100 260,600 261,000 264,200 
			 Westminster 174,200 178,500 181,800 184,700 189,200 
		
	
	
		
			  2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 Greater London 7,236,700 7,322,400 7,371,200 7,387,900 7,429,200 
			   
			 City of London 7,000 7,400 7,700 8,000 8,600 
			 Barking and Dagenham 163,900 165,700 165,900 165,900 164,600 
			 Barnet 315,800 319,500 322,300 324,400 326,700 
			 Bexley 218,700 218,800 218,600 219,100 219,500 
			 Brent 264,900 269,600 269,700 267,800 267,700 
			 Bromley 295,300 296,200 297,100 298,300 299,100 
			 Camden 196,200 202,600 207,000 210,700 217,100 
			 Croydon 334,200 335,100 335,900 336,700 340,200 
			 Ealing 304,400 307,300 307,800 305,000 303,200 
			 Enfield 275,100 277,300 280,000 280,300 280,000 
			 Greenwich 214,400 217,500 221,100 223,700 225,700 
			 Hackney 203,400 207,200 208,900 208,400 207,000 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 164,400 169,400 172,700 174,200 176,800 
			 Haringey 219,800 221,300 224,300 224,700 224,300 
			 Harrow 209,100 210,000 211,300 210,700 211,900 
			 Havering 225,100 224,700 224,500 224,600 225,000 
			 Hillingdon 245,900 245,600 246,800 247,600 248,700 
			 Hounslow 214,700 216,000 215,400 212,900 212,300 
			 Islington 177,900 179,400 180,200 180,100 179,900 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 154,700 162,200 168,400 174,400 184,100 
			 Kingston Upon Thames 147,300 149,000 150,100 150,400 151,800 
			 Lambeth 270,000 273,400 271,100 268,500 268,100 
			 Lewisham 252,100 254,300 251,900 248,300 247,000 
			 Merton 188,200 191,100 191,700 191,400 192,300 
			 Newham 245,500 249,400 251,800 250,600 247,700 
			 Redbridge 239,900 241,900 242,400 245,100 247,300 
			 Richmond Upon Thames 172,900 174,300 176,500 179,200 182,700 
			 Southwark 252,700 256,700 255,400 253,800 254,700 
			 Sutton 180,500 181,500 180,200 178,500 177,600 
			 Tower Hamlets 197,100 201,100 204,600 206,600 209,300 
			 Waltham Forest 221,300 222,000 221,900 221,600 221,800 
			 Wandsworth 267,700 271,700 273,500 274,100 276,500 
			 Westminster 196,500 203,300 214,400 222,000 230,000 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures are rounded to the nearest 100 and may not add exactly due to rounding.

Lung Cancer

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many deaths there have been from lung cancer in each year since 1997, broken down by gender.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the national statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell to Mr. Andrew Lansley, dated 18 October 2005
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many deaths there have been from lung cancer in each year since 1997, broken down by gender.
	The latest year for which data are available is 2003. Figures for lung cancer for males and females are shown in the table below for each year from 1997 to 2003.
	
		Number of deaths from lung cancer(14), by sex, England and Wales, 1997 to 2003(15)
		
			 Calendar year Male Female 
		
		
			 1997 19,087 10,889 
			 1998 19,036 11,163 
			 1999 18,342 11,151 
			 2000 17,993 11,036 
			 2001(16) 17,579 11,149 
			 2002(16) 17,447 11,359 
			 2003(16) 17,155 11,610 
		
	
	(14)The cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) for the years 1997 to 2000, and the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) for2001 onwards. The codes used are listed:
	Malignant neoplasm of trachea, bronchus and lungICD-9 162; ICD-10 C33-C34;
	(15)Figures are based on deaths occurring in each calendar year.
	(16)The introduction of ICD-10 for coding cause of death in 2001 means that data for lung cancer are not completely comparable with data for years before this date. The data should therefore be interpreted with caution. The effect of the change in classification in 2001 on deaths from cancer by site is described in an article published in August 2004.(17)
	(18)Brock A, Griffiths C, Rooney C (2004) The effect of the introduction of ICD-10 on cancer mortality trends in England and Wales. 'Health Statistics Quarterly' 23, 717.

Manufacturing

Charles Walker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the UK workforce was accounted for by the manufacturing sector in each year since 1996; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: Since 1996 the number of workforce jobs has increased by over 2.5 million or 9.2 per cent. These gains have been achieved despite a fall in manufacturing jobs over this period of over 1 million, which accounted for 16 per cent. of total jobs in 1996 and 11.2 per cent. in 2005. The decline in the manufacturing workforce is more than balanced by rises in other sectors. Falling manufacturing employment is a common feature across all advanced economies, with the share of manufacturing employment falling in all G7 countries since 1996 with the exception only of Canada.

National Insurance

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) women and (b) men of working age were (i) not making national insurance contributions and (ii) not receiving national insurance contribution credits, in each of the last 20 years.

Dawn Primarolo: The number of individuals not making national insurance contributions can be estimated by subtracting the number of individuals making national insurance contributions from population estimates. Information on the estimated number of individuals making national insurance contributions is shown in Table CQY 1.0 'Number of people who paid National Insurance Contributions during the tax year by type of contribution' on the Department for Work and Pensions' internet website:
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/dsu/contsandqualify/Conts_and_Qual_Years_tables05.xls
	Population estimates for the UK are prepared by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and can be found at:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/explorer.asp?CTG= 3SL=4819D=4819DCT=0DT=32#4819
	Similarly, the number of individuals not receiving national insurance contribution credits can be found by subtracting the number of individuals receiving national insurance contribution credits in the provided table from the ONS population estimates.
	
		Number of individuals receiving national insurance contributions credits -- Thousand
		
			 Tax year Female Male All 
		
		
			 197879 2,861 4,087 6,948 
			 197980 2,974 4,006 6,979 
			 198081 3,205 4,634 7,840 
			 198182 3,399 5,194 8,593 
			 198283 3,716 5,745 9,461 
			 198384 3,814 6,804 10,617 
			 198485 3,965 6,986 10,951 
			 198586 4,101 7,059 11,160 
			 198687 4,213 7,076 11,289 
			 198788 3,838 6,783 10,621 
			 198889 3,557 6,320 9,878 
			 198990 3,381 6,091 9,471 
			 199091 3,388 6,297 9,685 
			 199192 3,529 6,899 10,428 
			 199293 3,590 7,202 10,792 
			 199394 3,627 7,243 10,869 
			 199495 4,051 7,318 11,369 
			 199596 4,331 7,233 11,564 
			 199697 4,412 7,039 11,451 
			 199798 4,259 6,641 10,900 
			 199899 4,127 6,333 10,460 
			 19992000 4,277 6,380 10,656 
			 200001 4,330 6,375 10,705 
			 200102 4,412 6,337 10,749 
			 200203 4,465 6,312 10,777 
			 200304 4,051 5,946 9,996 
		
	
	Combining the information on contributions and credits does not give the full picture as some people may have both contributions and credits in a year, and may or may not build up a full record and so accrue a qualifying year for State Pension. A more complete picture can be found from Table CQY Summary 'Number of people who have accrued a qualifying year for State Pension, by method of accrual and tax year' which can be found from the same Department for Work and Pensions internet website link as mentioned. This table includes Home Responsibilities Protection, but is still subject to revision in future years as individuals may pay voluntary contributions up to six years in arrears in order to fill gaps in their contributions record.
	Estimates on the number of individuals receiving national insurance contribution credits have been provided by DWP. The latest information available is for 200304.

National Insurance

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of (a) women and (b) men aged (i) 35 to 39, (ii) 40 to 44, (iii) 45 to 49, (iv) 50 to 54, (v) 55 to 59 and (vi) 60 to 65 years (A) has a full record of national insurance contributions, (B) is missing up to two years of full contributions, (C) is missing up to five years of full contributions, (D) is missing up to 10 years of full contributions and (E) is missing more than 10 years of full contributions.

Dawn Primarolo: Information on the number of individuals with full national contribution records or missing qualifying years for State Pension by sex and age is provided in the table. The proportions of individuals with full or missing records of national insurance contributions can be estimated by dividing the number of individuals with full or missing records by population estimates of their respective sex and age group. Population estimates for the UK are prepared by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and can be found at:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/explorer.asp?CTG= 3SL=4819D=4819DCT=0DT=32#4819
	
		All: Number of individuals with full and missing national insurance contributions by age 200304 -- Thousand
		
			 Qualifying years All under 20 20 to 34 35 to 39 40 to 44 45 to 49 50 to 54 55 to 59 60 to 65 
		
		
			 Full 13,322 2,581 3,507 1,549 1,525 1,228 997 1,011 924 
			 Up to 2 years missing 7,098 324 3,172 1,091 926 710 439 329 107 
			 3 to 5 years missing 5,748  2,701 748 723 581 515 387 93 
			 6 to 10 years missing 3,365  1,113 436 399 397 480 461 79 
			 Over 10 years missing 3,047  346 350 355 385 564 756 290 
		
	
	
		Male: Number of individuals with full and missing national insurance contributions by age 200304 -- Thousand
		
			 Qualifying years All Under 20 20 to 34 35 to 39 40 to 44 45 to 49 50 to 54 55 to 59 60 to 65 
		
		
			 Full 7,679 1,318 1,742 742 751 687 720 795 924 
			 Up to 2 years missing 3,340 156 1,464 442 394 316 237 225 107 
			 3 to 5 years missing 2,791  1,313 378 341 245 222 198 93 
			 6 to 10 years missing 1,579  594 246 220 164 143 132 79 
			 Over 10 years missing 1,307  195 186 185 171 146 134 290 
		
	
	
		Female: Number of individuals with full and missing national insurance contributions by age 200304 -- Thousand
		
			 Qualifying years All under 20 20 to 34 35 to 39 40 to 44 45 to 49 50 to 54 55 to 59 
		
		
			 Full 5,643 1,263 1,765 806 774 541 277 217 
			 Up to 2 years missing 3,758 169 1,708 648 532 394 203 104 
			 3 to 5 years missing 2,957  1,387 370 382 336 294 189 
			 6 to 10 years missing 1,786  519 191 179 233 336 329 
			 Over 10 years missing 1,740  151 164 171 214 418 622 
		
	
	Qualifying years may include national insurance credits and Home Responsibilities Protection.
	The information is subject to revision as voluntary contributions to repair a contribution record may be paid up to six years in arrears.
	Estimates on the number of individuals with full or missing records of national insurance contributions have been provided by the Department for Work and Pensions and are for 200304.

NHS Trusts

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidance and advice the Treasury has issued to HM Revenue and Customs in respect of the collection of PAYE and national insurance arrears from NHS trusts.

Dawn Primarolo: Her Majesty's Treasury has not given guidance or advice to Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs in respect of the collection of PAYE and national insurance arrears from NHS trusts.

Office for National Statistics

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to meet the Professional and Commercial Services Union to discuss changes in the Office for National Statistics.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell to Mr. David Drew, dated 18 October 2005
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question concerning what plans the Chancellor of the Exchequer has to meet the Professional and Commercial Services Union to discuss changes in the Office for National Statistics (ONS). (19239)
	John Healey MP, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, met with representatives from the Public and Commercial Services and Prospect trade unions on 20 July to discuss changes within the ONS. Having heard their concerns, Mr Healey referred the unions back to ONS management for more detailed discussion.

Pensions

Ian Gibson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the relative effects of the proposed pension self-investment scheme on those on different wage and salary levels.

Ivan Lewis: Pension simplification will provide benefits for all taxpayers, whatever their level of income. The regulatory impact assessment (RIA) Simplifying the Taxation of Pensions published in April 2004, which can be found at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/ria/simplifying-pensions.pdf set out an assessment of the potential impact of the whole pensions simplification package.

Pensions

Gregory Barker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total amount of revenue raised by pension taxes has been in each year since 1997.

Ivan Lewis: The latest estimates of the annual income tax due on pension payments are published on the HMRC website: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/pensions/7_9_sep05.pdf
	Estimates for earlier years are in Inland Revenue Statistics 2000, available from the House of Commons Library.

Pensions

Gregory Barker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received regarding Government revenues from taxes on pensions between 1997 and 2005.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 13 October 2005
	The Government receive many representations from individuals and organisations on the operation of the tax system. The Chancellor keeps all aspects of the tax system under review. Decisions on tax are normally made in the Budget.

Pensions

Gregory Barker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to change the minimum retirement age for stakeholder pension members; and if he will make a statement on the future of the stakeholder pension.

Ivan Lewis: The new simplified regime for the taxation of pensions, which comes into effect on 6 April 2006, introduces a new minimum pension age for all tax registered pension schemesincluding stakeholder pensionsof 55 by 2010.
	Stakeholder pensions are an established pension product. Since their introduction in April 2001 over 2.5 million have been sold. They form an integral part of the range of Stakeholder Savings products introduced in April 2005.

Population Changes

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the projected change in population in each enumerator district is for each of the next five decades.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell to Mr. David Drew, dated 18 October 2005
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your question concerning projected change in population in each enumerator district for the next five decades. (19238)
	The Office for National Statistics produces Subnational Population Projections that are fully consistent with the National Population Projections produced by the Government Actuary's Department. The latest of these are 2003-based and project the population over a twenty five year horizon to 2028.
	The population projections are produced down to the local authority district level, the lowest geographical level for which the assumptions and calculations are considered suitably robust.
	It is therefore not possible to supply enumerator district level projections.
	Official 2003-based Subnational Population Projections for England were published by the Office for National Statistics in November 2004. They are available at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/STATBASE/Product.asp?vlnk=997

Public Services (Expenditure)

David Mundell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of GDP was spent on public services in each local authority area in England in each of the past six years.

John Healey: The percentage of GDP spent on public services in each local authority area in England in each of the past six years is not available.

Regional Price Indexes

Andrew Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on progress in the development of regional price indexes showing differences in regional inflation rates.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell to Mr. Andrew Smith, dated 18 October 2005
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning the progress in the development of regional price indexes showing differences in regional inflation rates. (18945)
	The Office for National Statistics has, from time to time, made estimates of inter regional differences in price levels. The most recent of these was released in Economic Trends earlier this year (Relative regional consumer price levels in 2004Economic Trends February 2005 page 615), copies of which are available in the House of Commons Library. We do not however plan to produce regional estimates of price changes in the near future.
	Our approach has been endorsed by the recent Allsopp review of Statistics for Economic Policy Making.

Self-employment (Tax Returns)

Stephen Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will raise the threshold for annual turnover of the self-employed below which they may use a short version of the income and expenses section of a tax return; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: There are no plans to raise this threshold.

Stability and Growth Pact

Keith Vaz: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the implementation of the stability and growth pact.

Ivan Lewis: The slow down in the global and European economies in recent years has tested the effectiveness of the Stability and Growth Pact (SGP) in supporting both stability and growth, as well as highlighting problems surrounding the operation and design of the SGP's Excessive Deficit Procedure. The Government have consistently argued for a prudent interpretation of the SGP that takes account of country-specific factors including debt sustainability, the economic cycle and public investment.
	The reforms to the Pact agreed in March 2005 rightly place a greater focus on reducing and maintaining low debt, with the flexibility for low debt countries such as the UK to invest in the provision of much needed public services. During our presidency of the EU, the UK will be working closely with member states and EU institutions to ensure effective implementation of the new Pact going forward.

Suicide Rate

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the suicide rate has been among (a) men and (b) women in each year since 1991, broken down by (i)socio-economic and (ii) ethnic group.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell to Mr. Andrew Lansley, dated 18 October 2005
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the suicide rate has been amongst (a)men and (b) women in each year since 1991, broken down by (i) socio-economic and (ii) ethnic group. (18377)
	Suicide rates for socio-economic groups are only available for the years 19911993 for males aged 2064.l The available figures are for Social Class (based on occupation) and have only been calculated for this period to ensure consistency with the population information available from the 1991 Census. Deaths were combined for the three-year period to ensure that the figures are sufficiently robust. Rates for England and Wales are provided in the table below.
	Comparable figures are not available by ethnic group as this is not recorded at death registration.
	1 Geographic Variations in Health, Decennial Supplement No. 16. Griffiths C. and Fitzpatrick J. London 2001.
	
		Suicide(19) rates(20) by social class for males age 20 to 64, England and Wales, 199193(21)
		
			 Social class Rate per 100,000 population 
		
		
			 IProfessional 12 
			 IIIntermediate 14 
			 IIINSkilled, non-manual 21 
			 IIIMSkilled, manual 21 
			 IVPartly skilled 23 
			 VUnskilled 47 
		
	
	(19)In routine statistics, ONS defines suicides as deaths from both intentional self-harm and 'injury of undetermined intent'. These were defined using the following International Classification of Diseases Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes:
	E950-E959Suicide and self-inflicted injury; and
	E980-E980, excluding E988.8Injury undetermined whether accidentally or purposely inflicted.
	(20)Directly age-standardised rates, standardised to the European Standard Population.
	(21)Deaths registered in each calendar year.

Tax Credits

Norman Lamb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in Norfolk received overpayments of (a) child tax credits and (b) working tax credits in 200304; what the total sum overpaid was; how much of this has been written off; and how many individuals have requested write off of the amount overpaid.

Dawn Primarolo: Estimates for 200304 of the numbers of in-work families with tax credits awards, including information on overpayments and underpayments by constituency, based on final family circumstances and incomes for 200304 are published in Child and Working Tax Credits. Finalised Awards. 200304 Geographical Analysis. This publication and provisional estimates for the number of in-work families by constituency with tax credit awards as at selected dates in 200405 are available on the HMRC website at: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-geog-stats.htm.
	Information about the amounts and numbers written off is not available at a regional level.

Tax Credits

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many times hon. Members used the MPs' tax credit hotline in each month from April 2003 to the latest available date.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 14 October 2005
	For the number of calls answered by the MPs' hotline in 200304 and for April to December 2004, I refer my right hon. Friend to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Northavon (Steve Webb) on 21 February 2005, Official Report, columns 7576W. The figures for 1 January 2005 to 31 August 2005 are given as follows.
	
		
			  2005 month Number of calls to Tax Credit Office MPs' hotline 
		
		
			 January 1,730 
			 February 1,690 
			 March 1,700 
			 April 1,411 
			 May 942 
			 June 1,234 
			 July 1,433 
			 August 1,337

Tax Credits

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidance on clarity and effective communication has been issued to staff at the tax credit office when replying to correspondence from hon. Members.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 14 October 2005
	The Customer Service Manual and Customer Contact Clarity of Writing: 200506 Guide has been made available to all tax credit office staff who reply to correspondence.

Tax Credits

David Anderson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the administration of tax credits.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 17 October 2005
	On 26 May I announced six measures that HM Revenue and Customs are taking to improve how the Department communicates with tax credits families; reduce the risk of errors adding to overpayments; and improve procedures for recovering overpayments. I will keep the House informed on the progress of these measures.

Tax Credits

Peter Bone: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the level of overpayment of tax credits in the last 12 months.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to the hon. Member for St. Albans (Anne Main) on 13 October 2005, Official Report, column 428.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his latest estimate is of the number of tax credit awards overpaid in 200405; what the value is of these overpayments; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to the hon. Member for St. Albans (Anne Main) on 13 October 2005, Official Report, column 428.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what the administration of tax credits cost in 200405;
	(2)  what his estimate is of the cost of managing and paying tax credits in (a) 200102, (b) 200203, (c) 200304, (d) 200405, (e) 200506 (to date), (f) 200506 (estimated) and (g) 200607 (estimated), broken down by (i) child tax credits, (ii) working tax credits and (iii) other tax credits; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The costs of managing and paying working families and disabled person's tax credits are shown in the Inland Revenue Trust Accounts, at note 3 for 200102 and at note 4 for 200203.
	The cost of managing and paying the child and working tax credits in the financial year 200304 appear in note 3 to the Trust Statement in the Inland Revenue Annual Report and Accounts for 200304. The same costs for the financial year 200405 appear in note 3 to the Trust Statement in the Inland Revenue Annual Report and Accounts for 200405.
	Figures for future years will not be available until the Trust Statement for these years are released.

Tax Credits

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people applied for child tax credit in the last 12 months; what percentage of applications were successful; and what the average payment was in each year.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is not available.

Tax Credits

Anne Milton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total cost of compensation paid by HM Revenue and Customs to those whose applications for working tax credit have not been processed satisfactorily is for each year since its introduction.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 4 July 2005, Official Report, columns 9596W, and the hon. Member for Tatton (Mr. Osborne) on 19 Jul 2005, Official Report, column 1698W.
	In the five months ending 31 August 2005, compensation payments had been made to tax credits claimants with a value of around 524,000.

Tax Evasion (Northern Ireland)

Peter Robinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) individuals and (b) businesses have been investigated for tax evasion in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

Dawn Primarolo: The total number of new full enquiries started in each of the last five years in Northern Ireland is set out in the following table.
	These enquiries will have been taken up to tackle non compliance of many types. It is not possible to specify the proportion concerned with tax evasion, as this information is not retained centrally, and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost. In addition a number of aspect enquiries are taken up into specific technical aspects of individuals and businesses tax returns each year.
	
		
			  Individuals Business incorporated Business unincorporated 
		
		
			 200102 5,373 53 1,356 
			 200102 4,354 50 1,389 
			 200203 3,459 54 1,208 
			 200304 4,156 67 1,191 
			 200405 2,857 85 1,121

Unemployment (Pudsey)

Paul Truswell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the levels of long-term (a) adult and (b) youth unemployment in Pudsey since 1997.

John Healey: The Government have put in place a broad programme of both macroeconomic and microeconomic reform since 1997 designed to improve the economic performance of all parts of the UK. Since these policies were implemented, claimant unemployment in Pudsey has fallen by almost 45 per cent. Over the same period, youth unemployment has fallen by 54 per cent. and long-term unemployment has fallen by over 90 per cent. The labour market in Pudsey is strong with high employment (82.1 per cent.) and low unemployment (3.3 per cent.).

Vehicle Emissions

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what change there has been in (a) road transport vehicle carbon dioxide emissions and (b) single occupancy car commuting within the Department in (a) 200304 and (b) 200405.

John Healey: Under Sustainable Development target B1, the Treasury aims to reduce its own road transport vehicle carbon dioxide emissions by 10 per cent. by 31 March 2006, compared to a baseline year of 200203. The Treasury's delivery plan for this target encourages the use of public transport, alternative transport, and the use of video and telephone conferencing facilities. Vehicle mileage claims in 200405 were a reduction of 38 per cent. in the number of miles claimed in 200304, and a reduction of 2 per cent. on the number of miles claimed in 200203. Six staff are currently granted parking spaces within the building, based on medical, child care or operational need, compared to 11 in 200203.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Building Schools for the Future Scheme

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what schemes have so far been approved for the voluntary aided sector under the Building Schools for the Future scheme; and what the total value of these schemes is.

Jacqui Smith: The Government has announced 37 projects in waves 1 to 3 of Building Schools for the Future (BSF), of which 29 have at least one voluntary aided (VA) school within them.
	So far 13 project outline business cases have been approved by the Treasury or the Department, and the VA schools that are included in these are listed as follows:
	
		
			  VA schools 
		
		
			 Knowsley Kirby RC; Central RC 
			 Lancashire St. Theodore's RC Burnley 
			 Leeds Corpus Christie RC; New RC High 
			 Leicester English Martyrs; St. Paul's RC 
			 Lewisham Northbrook 
			 Newcastle St. Cuthbert's RC; St. Mary's RC 
			 Solihull The Archbishop Grimshaw RC 
			 Stoke St. Peter's CE; St. Margaret Ward RC;  St Thomas More RC; St Joseph's RC 
			 Waltham Forest Holy Family RC 
		
	
	All the BSF projects are currently moving towards procurement, but none have been signed as yet. Funding is not finalised until contracts have been signed, and no details can be released prior to this for commercial reasons.

Bullying

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what recent discussions she has had with the Anti-Bullying Alliance on the role of punishment in tackling bullying;
	(2)  what plans she has to review the guidance issued by the Department on the role of punishment in tackling bullying;
	(3)  if she will make a statement on the role of punishment in tackling bullying.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 14 October 2005
	My officials have recently held discussions with the Anti-Bullying Alliance (ABA) on this matter. In these discussions the Government's belief that bullying should always be punished has been made clear.
	The ABA is re-framing its advice to make it clear that it is exclusion not punishment that should be seen as a last resort.
	Bullying is always unacceptable and should always be punished.
	The Bullying: Don't Suffer in Silence packs issued by the Department contain clear guidance on appropriate sanctions to deal with bullying.
	Possible sanctions include, removal from the group/class, withdrawal from break and lunchtime privileges, carrying out a useful task in the school, detention, withholding participation in school trips and events not essential to the curriculum, and fixed period exclusion.
	Where serious real or threatened violence is involved, the head teacher can permanently exclude the pupil. To further enforce this appeal panels and governing bodies have been advised that they should not normally seek to overrule such a decision on appeal.
	The Department's advice pack, Don't Suffer in Silence, last updated in September 2002, is currently being reviewed to ensure that our advice that bullying should always be punished is sufficiently clear.

Child Care

Paul Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many childcare places have been created in Pudsey since 1997.

Beverley Hughes: The Department is unable to provide details of childcare places for the Pudsey area of Leeds as data collected is only available at local authority level.
	From April 1999 to March 2005 Leeds local authority increased the stock of registered childcare places in Leeds by more than 4,500. The OFSTED registered stock of childcare in Leeds in March 2005 was 17,000 places.
	Nationally, from April 1999 to March 2005 local authorities have created almost 487,000 registered childcare places. The OFSTED registered stock of childcare nationally at March 2005 was 1,175,275.

City Academies

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what academic criteria are used when determining whether a school should be replaced by a city academy.

Jacqui Smith: Proposed academy projects are assessed on a case by case basis. In coming to a judgment we use the standard range of academic assessment criteria published in performance tables. In particular we look at the A*-C GCSE rate, performance at KS3 and other performance indicators. We also look at a range of wider information sources including Ofsted judgments.

City Academies

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance her Department plans to issue to trustees of city academies with regard to the use of yellow school buses; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: We have no plans to issue guidance on that topic.

Class Sizes

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what representations she has received regarding the effect of child birth rates on class sizes in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in (i)East Sussex and (ii) England;
	(2)  if she will make a statement on the effect of child birth rates on class sizes in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in (i) East Sussex and (ii)England.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 14 October 2005
	The Secretary of State has not received any representations regarding the effect of child birth rates on class sizes in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in (i) East Sussex and (ii) England.
	It is for individual schools to determine class size, having regard to capacity and, in the case of primary schools, to infant class-size limits. Children who will reach the ages of five, six or seven within the school year must not be taught in classes larger than 30 pupils to a qualified teacher.
	Changes in class size since 1998 are shown in the following table.
	
		Average class size(22)
		
			  East Sussex LA England 
			  Primary(23) Secondary(23) Primary(23) Secondary(23) 
		
		
			 1998 28.3 21.4 27.7 21.7 
			 1999 28.7 22.1 27.5 21.9 
			 2000 28.2 22.1 27.1 22.0 
			 2001 28.2 22.3 26.7 22.0 
			 2002 27.6 21.9 26.3 21.9 
			 2003 27.5 21.8 26.3 21.9 
			 2004 27.5 21.9 26.2 21.8 
			 2005 27.6 21.8 26.2 21.7 
		
	
	(22)Classes as taught during a single selected period in each school on the day of the census in January.
	(23)Includes middle schools as deemed
	Source:
	Annual Schools Census
	Nationally births fell from 667.3 thousand in England in 1990 to a low point of 564.0 thousand in 2001, but have since risen to 607.4 thousand in 2004. The recent rise in births reflects a rise in fertility rates since 2001 but it is not known yet whether this is the start of a sustained rise.
	Fertility rates in East Sussex are a little lower than the national average but have shown similar trends. There were 5,325 births in East Sussex in 1990 and these fell to a low of 4,530 in 2002. They have since risen to 4,811 in 2004.
	Many local authorities are facing falling primary rolls. Funding empty places can represent a poor use of resources particularly where schools with spare places also perform poorly. Working with local authorities and other partners we have developed a toolkit offering practical advice to help local authorities and schools manage falling rolls. The toolkit is available at www.teachernet.gov.uk/falling rolls.

Cumbrian Literacy Strategy

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  if the Government will extend the Cumbrian Literacy Strategy to dyslexic children elsewhere in the country;
	(2)  what the Government's policy is regarding the Cumbrian Literacy Strategy for children with dyslexia.

Maria Eagle: It is open to local authorities and schools to use whichever strategy they feel appropriate to meet the learning needs of a child with dyslexia. The Department commissioned research, published in 2002, into the effectiveness of intervention schemes for children with literacy difficulties. The research included a number of schemes which make reference to children with dyslexia including Reading Intervention (formerly Cumbria Reading with Phonology Project). The successful interventions readily available to schools were listed in a subsequent National Literacy Strategy publication on choosing and implementing interventions for children with significant literacy difficulties, and Reading Intervention was among those listed.
	The Department has asked Jim Rose, former HMI Director of Inspection at Ofsted, to undertake a review to advise on best practice in teaching early reading, including the role played by synthetic phonics, and the range of provision necessary to support children who have fallen behind in literacy to catch up with their peers. This advice will inform our work to renew the National Literacy Framework for Teaching to ensure that it reflects the most recent and relevant research and evidence for all learners. The review will also inform the work of the new Early Development and Learning Framework which, together with the renewed Literacy Framework, will help ensure that there is a coherent progression path in early literacy for all learners.

Departmental Guidance

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pages of departmental guidance have been sent to headteachers in Northamptonshire in each of the last five years.

Jacqui Smith: The Department ceased sending publications automatically to schools in England on a phased basis between April and December 2004. The service to Northamptonshire was discontinued in October 2004. Our detailed research showed that a significant number of schools wanted greater freedom to choose the publications they wanted, when they wanted them and to be able to order paper copies in the multiples they require. We have given schools this choice by introducing an online ordering system and fortnightly email service, notifying schools of new and important publications. This puts schools in control of what they receive and when they receive it.

Education Institutions (Brent)

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the performance of (a) Capital City Academy and (b) other secondary schools in Brent; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: Ofsted inspectors carried out a monitoring visit at Capital City Academy during May this year, focusing on pupil attainment. The visit was very positive and the report noted much has been achieved in the academy's second year and that the principal and governors have 'brought the focus for thinking, planning and action firmly on strategies to raise attainment'. A full inspection of the academy, which will be published on the Ofsted website, is due before the end of this academic year.
	The 2005 key stage 3 results are a reflection of some of the improvements mentioned by Ofsted. English was 41 per cent. up from 28 per cent. in 2004 and Maths was 37.9 per cent. up from 35 per cent. in 2004. These figures represent an overall increase of 30.1 per cent. and 24.9 per cent. respectively since opening. Science was 21.8 per cent. down marginally from 23 per cent. but there has been an overall increase of 11.8 per cent. since opening. The 2005 GCSE results have yet to be released but provisional results suggest that there is decrease from 2004.
	In 2004, 54.5 per cent. of pupils in Brent schools achieved five or more A*-C passes in GCSE or equivalent examinations, this compares with national average of 52 per cent.. Provisional results for 2005 at LEA level will be published on 20 October, with final figures and school-level results following in January 2006.

Essex Pupils

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many Essex pupils were educated out of county in each of the last seven years.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested has been provided in the following table.
	
		The number and percentages of pupils living within Essex that are educated out of the county from 200205 at (a) primary,(b) secondary and (c) special schools
		
			  Total pupils resident in Essex Number of pupils resident in Essex educated outside of the authority Percentage of pupils resident in Essex educated outside of the authority 
		
		
			 2005 202,883 8,554 4.2 
			 2004 203,408 8,458 4.2 
			 2003 203,005 8,408 4.1 
			 2002 201,712 8,043 4.0 
		
	
	
		
			  Resident pupils in Essex Number educated outside authority Percentage educated outside authority 
		
		
			 Primary
			 2005 108,988 1,973 1.8 
			 2004 110,136 1,932 1.8 
			 2003 111,048 1,930 1.7 
			 2002 112,132 1,853 1.7 
			 
			 Secondary
			 2005 92,010 6,379 6.9 
			 2004 91,387 6,300 6.9 
			 2003 90,009 6,231 6.9 
			 2002 87,904 6,008 6.8 
			 
			 Special
			 2005 1,878 202 10.8 
			 2004 1,885 226 12.0 
			 2003 1,948 247 12.7 
			 2002 1,852 182 9.8 
		
	
	Source:
	Annual School Census 200205 Final data

Examination Markers/Results

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many examiners and moderators employed to mark GCSE, AS, and A Level examination papers in 2005 were not current teachers or former teachers; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: The exam regulators' code of practice requires that candidates' work should be marked by trained examiners with appropriate subject experience. The regulatory authorities have never specified a teaching experience requirement for examiners and markers, although the awarding bodies may set a requirement when they recruit staff. The awarding bodies responsible for GCSE and A level qualifications have assured the regulators that they followed the code of practice during the 2005 summer exam series. No data is available on the total number of markers who were not current or former teachers, though the number is believed to be very small, and any such markers would have received appropriate training and have their performance monitored. Through the exams modernisation programme, a significant number of new examiners have been recruited over the last year, tackling shortages of examiners in almost all subjects.

Examination Markers/Results

Michael Wills: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many A and A* grades at GCSE were achieved in each year from 1997, broken down by (a) type of school and (b) gender.

Jacqui Smith: The following table gives the figures requested.
	
		Numbers of A* and A grades achieved by students in GCSE courses, by school type and gender: 1997 to 2004
		
			   2004 2003 2002 2001 
			   A* A A* A A* A A* A 
		
		
			 Maintained schools  
			 Comprehensive Boys 55,582 166,846 49,387 158,959 48,835 151,897 48,576 147,499 
			  Girls 89,650 250,095 80,594 239,655 80,101 228,235 78,644 223,988 
			  Total 145,232 416,941 129,981 398,614 128,936 380,132 127,220 371,487 
			 Selective Boys 18,638 31,741 16,174 31,326 15,402 29,745 14,303 28,679 
			  Girls 24,831 37,311 22,071 36,465 21,414 35,385 19,839 34,932 
			  Total 43,469 69,052 38,245 67,791 36,816 65,130 34,142 63,611 
			 Modern Boys 727 3,677 754 3,500 707 3,301 638 3,252 
			  Girls 1,502 6,795 1,329 6,073 1,228 5,736 1,286 5,618 
			  Total 2,229 10,472 2,083 9,573 1,935 9,037 1,924 8,870 
			 Other maintained Boys 15 71 8 73 9 52 14 83 
			  Girls 15 41 15 34 12 88 15 79 
			  Total 30 112 23 107 21 140 29 162 
			 Independent  
			  Boys 41,433 54,448 36,254 53,366 36,037 52,538 34,047 51,922 
			  Girls 49,833 57,484 44,899 56,644 43,023 56,021 41,626 55,508 
			  Total 91,266 111,932 81,153 110,010 79,060 108,559 75,673 107,430 
			 Total Boys 116,395 256,783 102,577 247,224 100,990 237,533 97,578 231,435 
			  Girls 165,831 351,726 148,908 338,871 145,778 325,465 141,410 320,125 
			  Total 282,226 608,509 251,485 586,095 246,768 562,998 238,988 551,560 
		
	
	
		
			   2000 1999 1998 1997 
			   A* A A* A A A A* A 
		
		
			 Maintained schools  
			 Comprehensive Boys 43,271 140,797 41,250 136,292 38,608 128,013 37,054 126,669 
			  Girls 72,030 214,607 67,697 204,941 61,572 192,310 54,897 189,582 
			  Total 115,301 355,404 108,947 341,233 100,180 320,323 91,951 316,251 
			 Selective Boys 12,596 27,327 11,870 26,578 10,308 24,863 8,967 23,988 
			  Girls 18,419 32,848 16,404 32,060 14,663 30,202 12,006 30,222 
			  Total 31,015 60,175 28,274 58,638 24,971 55,065 20,973 54,210 
			 Modern Boys 483 2,573 399 2,286 309 1,904 289 1,844 
			  Girls 1,130 4,876 884 4,187 756 3,826 605 3,559 
			  Total 1,613 7,449 1,283 6,473 1,065 5,730 894 5,403 
			 Other maintained Boys 17 62 33 79 35 64 7 54 
			  Girls 16 65 27 61 28 63 10 67 
			  Total 33 127 60 140 63 127 17 121 
			 Independent  
			  Boys 30,102 50,793 30,212 50,786 26,897 51,985 25,098 52,693 
			  Girls 38,744 54,442 36,664 53,333 34,297 54,183 29,401 55,645 
			  Total 68,846 105,235 66,876 104,119 61,194 106,168 54,499 108,338 
			 Total Boys 86,469 221,552 83,764 216,021 76,157 206,829 71,415 205,248 
			  Girls 130,339 306,838 121,676 294,582 111,316 280,584 96,919 279,075 
			  Total 216,808 528,390 205,440 510,603 187,473 487,413 168,334 484,323

Excellent Schools (Incentives)

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what incentives her Department gives to schools achieving excellence.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 13 October 2005
	The Department offers incentives to schools to achieve excellence in a range of ways. Participation in the specialist schools programme rewards schools for reaching and maintaining rigorous standards. This year we have offered additional opportunities for high-performing specialist schools to take on leading roles. Other examples of how schools are recognised for their excellence include the National Healthy School Programme, which recognises schools that meet standards in four key areas supporting children's health and learning, and Artsmark, which recognises, promotes and disseminates good practice in arts education provision. The value added indicator in the Achievement and Attainment tables is also an important way of recognising the progress that pupils have made between key stages.

Extended Schools Initiative

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 10 October 2005, Official Report, column 2341W, on the Extended Schools Initiative, what plans she has to monitor whether (a) schools and (b) local authorities are working with the private and voluntary sector as part of the extended schools initiative; and if she will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: The Government's vision for all schools to provide a core offer of extended services is a challenging one and our success will depend upon effective partnerships with the private and voluntary sectors. The National Remodelling Team, through its cultural change programme, is encouraging schools and local authorities to work with existing and new providers in the voluntary and private sectors and is offering support to help them do so. This close working will provide a clear understanding of the role of such organisations in providing extended services at the local and national level. The monitoring strategy we are developing with the NRT will also look at the involvement of the private and voluntary sector in developing extended services.

Foreign Languages

Robert Wareing: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will take steps to encourage foreign language learning in schools in England; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: In March 2005 the Secretary of State for Education and Skills announced a 115 million Boost for Modern Foreign Languages, providing support for language teaching and learning for this and the next 2 years.
	For primary schools the funding will provide continuing support for initial and existing teacher training as well as training for support staff. To date we have trained 1,200 new primary teachers with a specialism in languages. Next month we will publish in hard copy and online our Key Stage 2 Framework for Languages, which sets out learning objectives for the four years of Key Stage 2. It will be supported by training, guidance and a planning tool.
	The funding will support new approaches for teaching and learning for 1118 year olds, including alternative qualifications and vocational options at Key Stage 4 which will provide more flexibility for pupils in their studies. We have expanded the list of qualifications that count towards performance table scores to include more language qualifications.
	The funding will also allow language colleges to extend the role they play in supporting local primary and secondary schools in delivering language programmes. Last month the new languages recognition scheme, the Languages Ladder, became available nationally. The scheme can be used by learners of all ages and is available in eight languages. The scheme differs from existing approaches to assessment in that there are separate qualifications in each language for reading, writing, listening and speaking. To date more than 250 centresincluding Local Authorities and Specialist Language Collegeshave registered to take part in the scheme.
	Finally, our Key Stage 3 Strategy continues to impact positively on pupils' attainment in languages, especially boys.

Foreign Languages

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research she has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the effect of making the teaching of languages in Key Stage 4 optional; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: The decision to make languages at Key Stage 4 an entitlement subject from September 2004 was taken following national consultation on the 1419 'extending opportunities, raising standards' Green Paper in 2002. Since that date, no further research has been commissioned by the Department. However, research undertaken by CILTThe National Centre for Languages in 2004 showed that 30 per cent. of state schools maintained languages as a compulsory subject at age 14, in addition to the 224 Specialist Language Colleges where languages are a compulsory subject.
	In March 2005 the Secretary of State for Education and Skills announced 115 million Boost for Modern Foreign Languages, providing support for language teaching and learning for this and the next two years. This funding will support new approaches for teaching and learning for 11 to 18-year-olds, including alternative qualifications and vocational options at Key Stage 4 which will provide more flexibility for pupils in their studies. We have also expanded the list of qualifications that count towards performance table scores to include more language qualifications.

Foster Care

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much a foster family in London received for each child fostered in each of the last five years.

Maria Eagle: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Children, Young People and Families on 12 September 2005, Official Report, column 2688W.

Home Economics

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many (a) boys and (b) girls studied home economics at GCSE in 2004;
	(2)  how many and what proportion of pupils studied home economics at GCSE in 2004.

Jacqui Smith: The number and proportion of pupils who attempted home economics at GCSE in 2004, broken down by gender are as follows:
	
		
			 Gender Number of 15-year-old pupils who took home economics Percentage of 15-year-old pupils who took home economics 
		
		
			 Boys 1,700 1 
			 Girls 32,300 10 
			 Total 34,000 5

International Baccalaureate

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 10 October 2005, Official Report, column 352W, on the International Baccalaureate, if she will list the schools with at least one pupil following an International Baccalaureate.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is shown in the following table.
	
		Schools with at least one pupil following an international baccalaureateJanuary 2005
		
			 LEA name Lea number Estab School name 
		
		
			 Maintained secondary schools:  
			 Greenwich 203 4271 Crown Woods School 
			 Lewisham 209 4204 Sydenham School 
			 Bexley 303 4000 Bexley Grammar School 
			 Birmingham 330 4057 Lordswood Boys' School 
			 Birmingham 330 4804 Archbishop Ilsley Catholic School 
			 Birmingham 330 5412 George Dixon International School and Sixth Form Centre 
			 Coventry 331 4033 Tile Hill Wood School and Language College 
			 Walsall 335 4100 Darlaston Community Science College 
			 Wolverhampton 336 4139 Moreton Community School 
			 Liverpool 341 4425 Broadgreen High School a Technology College 
			 Liverpool 341 4428 New Heys Comprehensive School 
			 Rotherham 372 4022 Dinnington Comprehensive School 
			 Bradford 380 4612 Yorkshire Martyrs Catholic College 
			 Wakefield 384 4024 Outwood Grange College 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 391 4498 West Gate Community College 
			 Bedfordshire 820 4078 Sandy Upper School and Community College 
			 Leicestershire 855 4033 Guthlaxton College 
			 Leicestershire 855 4045 The Beauchamp College 
			 Slough 871 5408 Slough Grammar School 
			 Wokingham 872 4060 Waingels College 
			 Cambridgeshire 873 4004 Impington Village College 
			 Peterborough 874 5407 Deacon's School 
			 Cheshire 875 4149 Christleton High School 
			 Essex 881 5442 Anglo European School 
			 Kent 886 4522 Maidstone Grammar School 
			 Kent 886 5406 Dartford Grammar School 
			 Kent 886 5411 Dartford Grammar School for Girls 
			 Kent 886 5443 Tonbridge Grammar School 
			 Hertfordshire 919 5415 Goffs School 
			 Hertfordshire 919 5427 Hockerill Anglo-European College 
			 Northamptonshire 928 4052 Prince William School 
			 Surrey 936 4468 Kings International College for Business and the Arts 
			 Surrey 936 4509 Kings College for the Arts and Technology 
			 Warwickshire 937 4192 Campion School and Community College 
			 
			 City Technology Colleges and Academies:  
			 Solihull 334 6900 The City Technology College 
			 Bexley 303 6905 The Business Academy Bexley 
		
	
	Source:
	Annual Schools' Census.

Key Stage Tests

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to review the food technology content of the national curriculum at key stages 1, 2 and 3.

Jacqui Smith: The Secretary of State has asked the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority to review key stage 3 of the national curriculum. Food technology is part of the design and technology curriculum and is included in this review. There are no plans to review design and technology at key stages 1 and 2.

Learning and Skills Council

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many Level 3 student places were funded by the Learning and Skills Council in 200405; and how many Level 3 students there were in further education colleges in 200405.

Bill Rammell: Learner numbers for the academic year 2004/05 are not yet available. The following table shows the number of learners for the academic year 2003/04, including totals for the subset funded by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), versus all learners in Further Education (FE) provision:
	
		Numbers: (000s)
		
			 2003/04 LSC funded All learners 
		
		
			 Level 1 and entry 1,611.5 1,748.1 
			 Level 2 1,037.0 1,111.1 
			 Level 3 837.4 882.9 
			 Level 4, 5 and HE 72,6 142.7 
			 Level not specified 555.7 752.0 
			 Total 4,114.2 4,636.7

Nutrition

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make it her policy to make nutrition a mandatory element of the food preparation and cooking national vocational qualification.

Jacqui Smith: Qualifications relating to food preparation and cooking are developed in response to employers needs, and at this point most employers do not want nutrition as a mandatory element, although such a unit is currently available as an option. However, our recent work on improving school meals has shown that it is essential that all school catering staff have the training they need to be able to provide healthy meals for school children. That is why we worked with People 1st (the Sector Skills Council for the hospitality industry) and the Food Standards Agency to develop a level 1 vocationally related qualification in providing a healthier school meals service. The aim of the VRQ is to give school cooks and caterers the basic knowledge and skills to deliver a healthier meals service. It has been specifically designed for staff involved in the preparation and service of school meals. It will enable school caterers to improve pupil nutritional intake from all food provided by the school meals service and know how to market and promote healthier choices to pupils.

Reading and Literacy

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the impact of the participation rate of schools in England on the effectiveness of the progress in the International Reading and Literacy Study.

Jacqui Smith: The target school participation rate for the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS), established by the study organisers, the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA), was 85 per cent. England achieved 87 per cent. and its data were fully reported in the international report.

Safe Driving

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will introduce the teaching of safe driving in schools.

Jacqui Smith: The Government's non-statutory framework for personal, social and health education includes teaching about becoming safe and responsible road users. We have issued guidance to schools on how safety education can be delivered through the formal and informal curriculum. At present, the Government have no further plans to introduce measures to improve the teaching of safe driving in schools.

School Budgets

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will extend the three year limit on school budgets for the accumulation of capital funds for school building projects.

Jacqui Smith: Devolved formula capital is allocated by national formula to all maintained schools in England so that they can invest in their local priorities. This year, a typical primary school receives over 25,000 and a typical secondary school receives over 87,000. By 200708, these amounts increase to 34,000 and 113,000 respectively. Guidance on this funding allows schools to roll over this funding for up to three years to enable larger projects to be funded. I do not intend to extend this roll-over period. We should not deliver money too far ahead of use. Where schools have priority needs which exceed their three year allocations, they should approach their local authority for additional funding from the capital of over 2 billion each year which we provide. In these times of high construction inflation, investment should be made as early as possible. This will also mean that children will benefit as early as possible from the investment.

School Closures

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance her Department has given to local education authorities considering school closures because of falling numbers.

Jacqui Smith: Many local authorities are facing a decline in their primary school population. Working with local authorities and other partners the Department and the Audit Commission have jointly developed a toolkit which offers practical advice to help local authorities and schools tackle the challenges and make use of the opportunities presented by falling primary rolls. The toolkit is available at www.teachernet.gov.uk/falling rolls.
	When falling rolls lead to empty school places closing schools is not the only option. The toolkit gives advice on a range of options from reorganisation of school places, including school closures; amalgamations and federations; and extended schools.

School Curriculum

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate her Department has made of the proportion of primary schools that teach one hour a week or more in (a) design and technology, (b) history, (c) geography, (d) art, (e) music, (f) personal, social and health education and (g) a modern language.

Jacqui Smith: This information is not held centrally.
	Primary schools are required to deliver the national curriculum programmes of study in design and technology, history, art and design and music. They are also encouraged to deliver PSHE and modern foreign languages. Schools are free to determine how much time to spend on each curriculum area (the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority has published non-statutory guidance for schools on allocating curriculum time).
	Research carried out for the DFES in 2002/03 showed that 44 per cent. of schools teaching key stage 2 pupils (ages 711) offered some form of language learning, including extra-curricular classes. That research also highlighted that approximately 3 per cent. of schools were offering language learning programmes within curriculum time to all year groups in key stage 2 for more than 20 minutes a week. A copy of the research is available at:
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/research/programmeofresearch/projectinformation.cfm?projectld=13883keyword= RR572keywordlist1=0keywordlist2=0keywordlist3= 0andor=ortype=5resultspage=1

School Meals

Michael Wills: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of children eligible for free school meals did not take up their entitlement in the last period for which figures are available, broken down by local education authority.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested has been placed in the Libraries.

School Meals

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her estimate is of the cost of implementing the recommendations of the School Meals Review Panel(a) initially and (b) annually thereafter, broken down by costs associated with (i) food ingredients, (ii)refurbishment costs, (iii) catering staff training costs and (iv) catering staff costs.

Jacqui Smith: The Government are currently consulting on proposals to improve nutritional standards in schools. As part of its final report, Turning the Tables: Transforming School Food, the School Meals Review Panel offered an assessment of the additional costs of implementing its recommendations over a three-year transition period. The figures offered are estimates and should be regarded with due caution.
	Government are investing 220 million over three years to help schools and local authorities transform school meals through training and increased hours for cooks, equipment and a minimum spend on ingredients. The Panel discovered that the school meals market is currently operating very nearly at our suggested minimum levels of ingredient costs, and is well on the way to meeting the Caroline Walker Trust recommendations for minimum spend.

School Meals

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will revise Ofsted inspection criteria to include monitoring of school meals food and nutrition standards.

Beverley Hughes: The Education Act 2005 extended the statutory purposes for school inspection to include the requirement to inspect and report on the contribution made by the school to the well-being of pupils. Within these provisions which came into effect in September, Ofsted looks at school meals as part of the being healthy strand of well-being. The starting point for this is the evidence provided in the school's self evaluation form. Ofsted will expect schools to present evidence about their general approach to food and healthy eating within the school as well as more specifically about the standard of school meals. Reports will highlight particular strengths and areas of concern.
	In addition, Ofsted will undertake an initial thematic study this autumn covering a small sample of schools and LEAs which is intended to look in more detail at school meals and nutritional standards. The Department is working with the Department of Health, Food Standards Agency and Ofsted on the requirements for this review. This is expected to lead to a more detailed study the following year to coincide with the planned implementation of the new nutritional standards.

School Meals

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will review the length of the lunch break in (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools to take account of the recommendations of the School Meals Review Panel.

Jacqui Smith: The Department does not prescribe how long schools should take for their lunch break. There are no current plans to change this arrangement. We will consider the implications of the consultation responses to the School Meals Review Panel's recommendations in due course.

School Refurbishment

Paul Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much public funding has been spent on (a) repairing and (b) rebuilding schools in Pudsey in each year since 1992.

Jacqui Smith: Capital funding is provided to local authorities and schools through formulaic programmes targeted to need. This is available to modernise facilities, provide more places, reorganise schools and improve access for disabled pupils. Devolved formula capital is allocated to all maintained schools in England. This funding enables schools to tackle repairs, maintain buildings and invest in ICT. We do not keep central records on how this money is spent, so it is not possible to distinguish between expenditure on repairs and rebuilding.
	Capital allocations are not made direct to Pudsey, but to the City of Leeds local authority and schools in its area. Allocations made since 1996 are shown in the following table.
	
		 million
		
			  Capital allocations 
		
		
			 199697 8.7 
			 199798 9.2 
			 199899 10.4 
			 19992000 13.2 
			 200001 28.9 
			 200102 22.7 
			 200203 32.8 
			 200304 28.3 
			 200405 31.7 
			 200506 23.3 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Figures exclude 193.4 million of PFI Credits provided for the Leeds 2 PFI project. Four Pudsey schools are included in this PFI project.
	2.Data is not available centrally before 199697.

School Uniforms

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of local education authorities provide financial assistance for the purchase of school uniforms.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 14 October 2005
	The Department does not collect this information.

School Uniforms

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what progress has been made on taking forward the recommendation of the Work and Pensions Select Committee that resources should be earmarked to enable local education authorities to provide school uniform grants.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 14 October 2005
	The response to the Work and Pensions Select Committee report stated that this Government do not believe that funding should be earmarked for providing school clothing, because local authorities (LAs) already have discretionary powers to provide school clothing grants. We think that individual LAs are best placed to determine the level of need in their area.
	Department for Education and Skills guidance to schools advises that governing bodies should give high priority to cost considerations when they set their school uniform policy, and should keep costs to a minimum by, for example, ensuring that uniform can be purchased from more than one supplier. It also states that no school uniform should be so expensive as to leave pupils or their families feeling socially excluded.

Schools' Capital Funding

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much capital funding was available to (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in each year from 200102.

Jacqui Smith: Capital funding is provided to local authorities and schools through formulaic programmes targeted to need, so that they can address local priorities. It is the responsibility of local authorities to allocate funds throughout their school estate in a way that promotes fair investment and ensures best value for money. We do not keep central records on how local authorities allocate the funds across their primary and secondary school estates. In addition devolved formula capital is allocated directly to all maintained schools in England, to use for their individual priorities. This year, a typical primary school receives 25,000 and a typical secondary school receives over 87,000. By 200708, these amounts increase to 34,000 and 113,000 respectively.
	The total capital funding available to schools since 200102 is shown as follows:
	
		 billion
		
			  Capital allocations 
		
		
			 200102 2.5 
			 200203 3.3 
			 200304 4.1 
			 200405 4.8 
			 200506 5.5

Science Education

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the outcome of the pilot project carried out by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority introducing Twenty-First Century Science and Science for the Citizen; and how much the project cost.

Jacqui Smith: Early indications from the pilot are that it has had a very positive effect and a new programme of study for science at Key Stage 4 will be introduced in schools in September 2006. It will maintain the breadth, depth and challenge of the current curriculum, while catering for a wide range of students' interests and aptitudes and encouraging more students to study more science. The cost of running the pilot project was 81,340.

Second World War

Robert Wareing: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will take steps to encourage the teaching of the history of the Second World War in schools in England; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: The Second World and the Holocaust are both statutory elements of the Key Stage 3 (11 to 14-year-olds) history curriculum. In addition at Key Stage 2 (7 to 11-year-olds), pupils have the option to study Britain since 1930, specifically the impact of the Second World War. Modern European and world history, including the study of the Second World War, is a popular choice at GCSE and A Level.
	Over the last 18 months the Department has worked with the Ministry of Defence to ensure that key messages surrounding the 60th anniversary commemorations of the end of the Second World War were delivered to schools and to ensure that schools and young people were included as part of the planning and organisation for events.
	The Department also assisted in the development of the 'Their Past, Your Future' programme managed by the Imperial War Museum and funded by the Big Lottery Fund. That programme has provided opportunities for schools to visit Second World War sites with veterans and create school resources.

SEN

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of pupils with special educational needs (a) with statements and (b) without statements were taught in each category of school, including faith schools, in each of the last five years.

Jacqui Smith: Tables 1a and 1b show the number of pupils with special educational needs (SEN) with statements and SEN pupils without statements for each school category.
	Tables 2a and 2b show the number of pupils with special educational needs (SEN) with statements and SEN pupils without statements for maintained primary and secondary schools broken down by religious character. This information is not available for other school types.
	
		Table 1a: Number of pupils with statements of special educational needs (SEN) by type of school200105 -- Position in January each yearEngland
		
			  2001 (29) 2002 (30) 2003 (30) 2004 (30) 2005 (30) 
		
		
			 All schools 
			 Pupils with statements 258,200 248,980 250,550 247,590 242,580 
			 Pupils on roll 8,374,100 8,369,080 8,366,780 8,334,880 8,274,470 
			 Incidence (%) (24) 3.1 3.0 3.0 3.0 2.9 
			 Maintained schools 
			 Nursery  
			 Pupils with statements 600 550 550 460 410 
			 Pupils on roll 45,000 42,370 40,480 38,970 37,410 
			 Incidence (%) (24) 1.3 1.3 1.4 1.2 1.1 
			 Placement (%) (25) 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 
			 Primary  
			 Pupils with statements 75,300 70,730 71,040 69,610 67,380 
			 Pupils on roll 4,406,200 4,363,340 4,309,030 4,252,540 4,204,500 
			 Incidence (%) (24) 1.7 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.6 
			 Placement (%) (25) 29.1 28.4 28.4 28.1 27.8 
			 Secondary  
			 Pupils with statements 82,100 78,610 79,320 78,480 76,580 
			 Pupils on roll 3,231,800 3,264,090 3,308,030 3,324,950 3,316,050 
			 Incidence (%) (24) 2.5 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.3 
			 Placement (%) (25) 31.8 31.6 31.7 31.7 31.6 
			 Special (26)(5508170027)  
			 Pupils with statements 87,400 85,800 85,800 84,250 83,290 
			 Pupils on roll 91,000 89,800 88,930 86,930 85,500 
			 Incidence (%) (24) 96.1 95.6 96.5 96.9 97.4 
			 Placement (%) (25) 33.9 34.5 34.2 34.0 34.3 
			 Pupil Referral Units (27) 
			 Pupils with statements 1,800 1,840 2,010 2,300 2,260 
			 Pupils on roll 9,300 9,960 12,010 13,040 14,470 
			 Incidence (%) (24) 19.4 18.5 16.8 17.6 15.6 
			 Placement (%) (25) 0.7 0.7 0.8 0.9 0.9 
			 Other schools 
			 Independent (28) 
			 Pupils with statements 6,600 6,970 6,990 7,800 7,930 
			 Pupils on roll 586,200 594,860 603,340 613,620 611,670 
			 Incidence (%) (24) 1.1 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.3 
			 Placement (%) (25) 2.6 2.8 2.8 3.1 3.3 
			 Non-maintained special (27) 
			 Pupils with statements 4,500 4,490 4,840 4,700 4,740 
			 Pupils on roll 4,600 4,670 4,950 4,840 4,870 
			 Incidence (%) (24) 96.1 96.0 97.8 97.2 97.3 
			 Placement (%) (25) 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.9 2.0 
		
	
	(24)Incidence of pupilsthe number of pupils with statements expressed as a proportion of the number of pupils on roll.
	(25)Placement of pupilsthe number of pupils with statements expressed as a proportion of the number of pupils with statements in all schools.
	(26)Including general and special hospital schools.
	(27)Excluding dually registered pupils.
	(28)Including Direct Grant Nursery Schools and City Technology Colleges and Academies from 2003.
	(29)Estimates were made for January 2001 because the data for SEN are known to be incomplete.
	(30)From 2002 data may not be comparable with previous years.
	Note:
	Totals may not appear to equal the sum of the component parts because numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10.
	Source:
	Annual Schools Census
	
		Table 1b: Number of pupils with special educational needs (SEN) without statements by type of school200105 -- Position in January each yearEngland
		
			  2001 (37) 2002 (38) 2003 (38) 2004 (38) 2005 (38) 
		
		
			 All schools (31)  
			 Pupils with SEN without statements 1,566,160 1,402,000 1,169,780 1,197,490 1,230,800 
			 Pupils on roll 8,374,100 8,364,220 8,366,560 8,334,680 8,274,320 
			 Incidence (%) (32) 18.6 16.8 14.0 14.4 14.9 
			 Maintained schools  
			 Nursery  
			 Pupils with SEN without statements 5,340 4,940 4,460 4,270 4,110 
			 Pupils on roll 45,000 42,370 40,480 38,970 37,410 
			 Incidence (%) (32) 11.9 11.7 11.0 11.0 11.0 
			 Placement (%) (33) 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.3 
			 Primary  
			 Pupils with SEN without statements 927,000 834,140 685,100 685,700 692,480 
			 Pupils on roll 4,406,200 4,363,340 4,309,030 4,252,540 4,204,500 
			 Incidence (%) (32) 21.0 19.1 15.9 16.1 16.5 
			 Placement (%) (33) 59.6 59.6 58.6 57.3 56.3 
			 Secondary  
			 Pupils with SEN without statements 586,300 519,120 430,080 450,120 473,510 
			 Pupils on roll 3,231,800 3,264,090 3,308,030 3,324,950 3,316,050 
			 Incidence (%) (32) 18.1 15.9 13.0 13.5 14.3 
			 Placement (%) (33) 37.7 37.1 36.8 37.6 38.5 
			 Special (31)(5508170032)  
			 Pupils with SEN without statements (39) 2,410 1,890 1,800 1,750 
			 Pupils on roll (39) 89,600 88,720 86,730 85,350 
			 Incidence (%) (32) (39) 2.7 2.1 2.1 2.1 
			 Placement (%) (33) (39) 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 
			 Pupil Referral Units (34)(5508170035) 
			 Pupils with SEN without statements 4,768 4,940 5,600 6,440 6,540 
			 Pupils on roll 9,300 9,960 12,010 13,040 14,470 
			 Incidence (%) (32) 51.3 49.6 46.7 49.4 45,2 
			 Placement (%) (33) 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.5 0.5 
			 Other schools 
			 Independent (36)  
			 Pupils with SEN without statements 32,750 36,450 42,610 49,140 52,370 
			 Pupils on roll 586,200 594,860 603,340 613,620 611,670 
			 Incidence (%) (32) 5.6 6.1 7.1 8.0 8.6 
			 Placement (%) (33) 2.1 2.6 3.6 4.1 4.3 
			 Non-maintained special (34) 
			 Pupils with SEN without statements (39) (39) 40 30 40 
			 Pupils on roll (39) (39) 4,950 4,840 4,870 
			 Incidence (%) (32) (39) (39) 0.7 0.5 0.8 
			 Placement (%) (33) (39) (39) 0.0 0.0 0.0 
		
	
	(31)Excludes general hospital schools. Data for pupils with SEN without statements is not collected from these schools.
	(32)Incidence of pupilsthe number of pupils with SEN without statements expressed as a proportion of pupils on roll.
	(33)Placement of pupilsthe number of pupils with SEN without statements expressed as a proportion of pupils with SEN without statements in all schools.
	(34)Excludes dually registered pupils.
	(35)Includes pupils with other providers.
	(36)Including Direct Grant Nursery schools, City Technology Colleges and Academies from 2003.
	(37)Estimates were made for January 2001 because the data for SEN are known to be incomplete.
	(38)From 2002 data may not be comparable with previous years.
	(39)Not available.
	Note:
	Totals may not appear to equal the sum of the component parts because numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10.
	Source:
	Annual Schools Census
	
		Table 2a: Maintained primary schools: Number and percentage of pupils with special educational needs by the religious character of the school -- Position as at January each yearEngland
		
			  2001 (41) 2002 (42) 2003 (42) 
			  pupils with a statement SEN pupils without a statement pupils with a statement SEN pupils without a statement pupils with a statement SEN pupils without a statement 
			  Number % (43) Number % (43) Number % (43) Number % (43) Number % (43) Number % (43) 
		
		
			 No religious character (45) (45) (45) (45) 53,860 1.7 623,040 19.8 53,860 1.7 510,250 16.5 
			 Church of England (45) (45) (45) (45) 11,660 1.5 137,530 17.5 11,890 1.5 113,910 14.5 
			 Roman Catholic (45) (45) (45) (45) 4,880 1.2 69,670 16.8 4,920 1.2 57.250 14.0 
			 Methodist (45) (45) (45) (45) 100 1.9 880 17.4 80 1.8 670 15.2 
			 Other Christian Faith (5) (45) (45) (45) (45) 110 1.3 1,500 17.1 170 1.6 1,490 14.6 
			 Jewish (45) (45) (45) (45) 110 1.4 1,420 17.1 120 1.5 1,330 17.2 
			 Muslim (45) (45) (45) (45) (46) 1.2 40 11.3 20 1.9 140 14.6 
			 Sikh (45) (45) (45) (45) 0 0.0 40 18.8 0 0.0 40 19.3 
			 Other (45) (45) (45) (45) 0 0.0 30 20.3 0 0.0 10 12.1 
			 Total 75,300 1.7 927,000 21.0 70,730 1.6 834,140 19.1 71,040 1.6 685,100 15.9 
		
	
	
		Maintained primary schools (40)
		
			  2004 (42) 2005 (42) 
			  Pupils  with a statement SEN pupils  without a statement Pupils  with a statement SEN pupils  without a statement 
			  Number % (43) Number % (43) Number % (43) Number % (43) 
		
		
			 No religious character 52,510 1.7 510,930 16.8 50,700 1.7 516,820 17.2 
			 Church of England 11,780 1.5 113,850 14.8 11,380 1.5 114,160 14.7 
			 Roman Catholic 4,940 1.2 57,570 14.1 4,920 1.2 58,220 14.4 
			 Methodist 80 1.8 710 15.6 80 1.8 690 15.1 
			 Other Christian Faith (44) 160 1.7 1,330 14.0 150 1.6 1,330 13.8 
			 Jewish 140 1.7 1,200 14.2 140 1.6 1,090 12.6 
			 Muslim 10 1.2 40 9.5 10 1.0 90 11.5 
			 Sikh (46) 0.5 30 14.8 (46) 0.9 20 11.3 
			 Other (46) 0.5 40 21.1 0 0.0 50 21.2 
			 Total 69,610 1.6 685,700 16.1 67,380 1.6 692,480 16.5 
		
	
	(40)Includes middle schools as deemed.
	(41)Estimates were made at National level for 2001 because the data for SEN are known to be incomplete. Therefore it is not possible to provide a breakdown by religious character.
	(42)Figures for SEN pupils without statements are not directly comparable with those for earlier years.
	(43)The number of pupils with SEN expressed as a percentage of the number of pupils on roll.
	(44)Includes schools of mixed denomination or other Christian beliefs.
	(45)Not available
	(46)Less than 5 pupils
	Note:
	Totals may not appear to equal the sum of the component parts because numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10.
	Source:
	Annual Schools' Census
	
		Table 2b: Maintained secondary schools: Number and percentage of pupils with special educational needs by the religious character of the school -- Position as at January each yearEngland
		
			  2001 (48) 2002 (49) 2003 (49) 
			  Pupils with a statement SEN pupils without a statement Pupils with a statement SEN pupils without a statement Pupils with a statement SEN pupils without a statement 
			  Number % (50) Number % (50) Number % (50) Number % (50) Number % (50) Number % (50) 
		
		
			 No religious character (53) (53) (53) (53) 69,130 2.5 449,740 16.3 69,470 2.5 372,720 13.3 
			 Church of England (53) (53) (53) (53) 3,240 2.1 23,380 14.9 3,420 2.1 18,550 11.6 
			 Roman Catholic (53) (53) (53) (53) 5,730 1.8 42,840 13.6 5,940 1.8 36,020 11.2 
			 Methodist (53) (53) (53) (53) 0 0.0 0 0.0 (53) 1.6 60 34.6 
			 Other Christian Faith (5) (53) (53) (53) (53) 410 1.7 2,170 8.9 380 1.6 1,830 7.6 
			 Jewish (53) (53) (53) (53) 90 1.8 840 17.4 100 1.5 780 11.7 
			 Muslim (53) (53) (53) (53) (53) 0.2 40 7.4 10 1.2 30 5.0 
			 Sikh (53) (53) (53) (53) 0 0.0 40 13.7 (53) 0.3 30 8.3 
			 Other (53) (53) (53) (53) 10 1.6 70 24.1 0 0.0 70 24.1 
			 Total 82,100 2.5 586,300 18.1 78,610 2.4 519,120 15.9 79,320 2.4 430,080 13.0 
		
	
	
		Maintained secondary schools (47)
		
			  2004 (49) 2005 (49) 
			  Pupils  with a statement SEN pupils  without a statement Pupils  with a statement SEN pupils  without a statement 
			  Number % (50) Number % (50) Number % (50) Number % (50) 
		
		
			 No religious character 68,430 2.4 389,950 13.9 66,400 2.4 410,050 14.7 
			 Church of England 3,490 2.1 19,940 12.1 3,680 2.2 21,060 12.5 
			 Roman Catholic 6,030 1.9 37,620 11.7 5,940 1.9 39,480 12.3 
			 Methodist 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 
			 Other Christian Faith (51) 430 1.6 1,970 7.3 450 1.7 2,280 8.3 
			 Jewish 90 1.9 510 10.3 100 1.8 520 9.5 
			 Muslim 10 0.8 50 7.2 10 0.9 70 9.3 
			 Sikh (53) 0.5 20 5.4 (53) 0.9 (53) 0.2 
			 Other (53) 0.3 60 19.2 10 4.1 40 13.7 
			 Total 78,480 2.4 450,120 13.5 76,580 2.3 473,510 14.3 
		
	
	(47)Includes middle schools as deemed.
	(48)Estimates were made at National level for 2001 because the data for SEN are known to be incomplete. Therefore it is not possible to provide a breakdown by religious character.
	(49)Figures for SEN pupils without statements are not directly comparable with those for earlier years.
	(50)The number of pupils with SEN expressed as a percentage of the number of pupils on roll.
	(51)Includes schools of mixed denomination or other Christian beliefs.
	(52)Not available.
	(53)Less than 5 pupils.
	Note:
	Totals may not appear to equal the sum of the component parts because numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10.
	Source:
	Annual Schools' Census

Single Parent University Students

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what child care support services for single parent university students receive public (a) funding and (b) support; and what estimate she has made of the percentage of single parent university students who have access to adequate child care services.

Bill Rammell: Information on university child care support services is not collected centrally. HE institutions are free to manage their own affairs and decide which student services they need to provide for their students, how best to deliver them and the level of resource they allocate to them from within the public funds they receive.
	The Government provide generous child care grants for eligible single parent university students worth 85 per cent. of total costs; and we have recently raised the ceiling on these costs from 200 to 300 per week (with grants up to 255 per week). This enables the student to choose the child care provision most suitable for them, whether made available by universities or otherwise.

SEN (Tooting)

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much funding has been allocated to special needs education provision in the constituency of Tooting since 1997.

Maria Eagle: The information requested is not held by the Department in this form.
	The constituency of Tooting falls within the area of Wandsworth local authority and the following table shows budgeted SEN expenditure in Wandsworth for the years 200001 to 200506.
	
		The Education (Budget Statements) (England) Regulations. Budgeted net expenditure on the provision of education for children with special educational needs(54)(5508170055) by Wandsworth local authority(56) since 200001Cash terms figures(57) as reported by Wandsworth local authority(56) as at 12 October 2005 -- 
		
			  Budgeted net expenditure on the provision of education for children with special educational needs 
		
		
			 200001 17,511,000 
			 200102 18,312,000 
			 200203 18,815,000 
			 200304 19,980,000 
			 200405 25,704,000 
			 200506(58) 27,833,000 
		
	
	(54)Includes planned expenditure on the provision for pupils with statements and the provision for non-statemented pupils with SEN, support for inclusion, inter authority recoupment, fees for pupils at independent special schools and abroad, educational psychology service, local authority functions in relation to child protection, therapies and other health related services, parent partnership, guidance and information, the monitoring of SEN provision and inclusion administration, assessment and co- ordination. Also included is the funding delegated to nursery, primary and secondary schools identified as notional SEN and the individual schools budget (ISB) for special schools.
	(55)The ISB for special schools will include some general education costs for pupils with SEN in addition to those costs specifically for SEN while the figures recorded against notional SEN are only indicative of the amount that might be spent by schools on SEN and, from 200405 onwards, notional SEN delegated to nursery schools was reported on Section 52 for the first time and this accounts for 31,000 and 72,000 of the 200405 and 200506 totals respectively, in 200506, Wandsworth also budgeted 4.9 million for SEN transport expenditure but this is not included in the above table as figures are not available prior to 200506.
	(56)Financial data is collected at a local authority level and consequently figures for the constituency of Tooting are not available and have been replaced by figures for Wandsworth local authority.
	(57)Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand pounds.
	(58)200506 data is provisional and is subject to change by the local authority.
	Source:
	The data is drawn from Wandsworth local authority's Section 52 Budget Statements (Tables 1 and 2) submitted to the DfES.
	Data is not available prior to 200001.

Sports Colleges

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  if she will take steps to ensure that all designated sports colleges have a sports hall;
	(2)  how many secondary schools have been designated as sports colleges; and how many of these do not have their own sports hall.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 13 October 2005
	There are currently 351 designated specialist sports colleges in operation. This includes: 334 schools with sport as the sole specialism; 10 schools with sport combined with another specialism; and seven schools with sport as a second specialism.
	The Department does not collect detailed data on the number of sports colleges which have their own sports hall. However, a survey of 168 sports colleges carried out by the Youth Sport Trust this summer showed that 77 per cent. of sports colleges had their own purpose built sports hall on site.
	While it may be desirable, it is not always necessary or appropriate for every sports college to have its own purpose built sports hall on site. Specialist sports colleges should have, or have access to, a range of high quality facilities for PE and sport that is appropriate to the needs of: their pupils; pupils in their partner schools; and other users in the wider community.
	Any perceived need for a sports hall should have been highlighted in the school's audit which it will have carried out as part of its application for sports college status. This should have been reflected in the school's sports college capital project plans. Sports colleges could consider using their capital grant to contribute towards the cost of a sports hall.
	Building Schools for the Future aims to renew all secondary schools in England over the next 15 years. When developing their proposals for BSF investment, planners should ensure that specialist sports colleges with a perceived need for a sports hall are catered for appropriately.

Student Finance

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Educationand Skills what proportion of university courses she expects will cost the full 3,000 per year fee when the new funding arrangements come into effect in 2006.

Bill Rammell: Universities are already and will continue to be free to charge unregulated fees for about half of the total number of courses they provide. For the other half, all but four universities plan to charge the full tuition fee of 3,000, but there will be no net cost in respect of tuition fees to any students from low income backgrounds at any university since in addition to the non-repayable grant of 2,700 we are making available, there is a minimum requirement for institutions to provide a bursary, or equivalent, of at least 300. However, most institutions have been significantly more generous than that with bursaries of up to 3,000, and in some exceptional cases up to 5,700.

Sure Start

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much has been spent by her Department on evaluating the effectiveness of Sure Start schemes.

Beverley Hughes: A comprehensive national level evaluation of Sure Start Local Programmes (SSLPs) is examining the implementation, cost-effectiveness and impact of Sure Start for children, families and communities. It also provides support to SSLPs on their local evaluations.
	The National Evaluation runs from 2001 to 2008 and will cost 20.3 million in total.

Sure Start

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how much funding has been made available for the creation of children's centres;
	(2)  how much has been allocated to Sure Start projects in West Sussex;
	(3)  if she will list Sure Start projects which are running in West Sussex; and where new ones are planned.

Beverley Hughes: For the first phase of Sure Start Children's Centres from 200406 we have made available 435 million to develop children's centre services in disadvantaged areas. For the second phase from 200608 we are starting to roll out children's centres across the rest of the country and are making available 947 million so that we reach our target of 2,500 centres by March 2008.
	Two Sure Start Local Programmes (SSLPs) were announced in West Sussex in 200203 (wave 5): Crawley and Littlehampton. Crawley SSLP received anallocation of 1.1 million in capital and revenue of 768,750 in 200506. Littlehampton SSLP received an allocation of 1,392,485 in capital and revenue of 729,800 in 200506.
	For phase 1 of children's centres, Crawley SSLP developed into Broadfield and Bewbush children's centres and Littlehampton SSLP became Littlehampton Children's Centre in 2005, all serving the 20 per cent. most disadvantaged wards in West Sussex. In addition to these, three other children's centres have been designated in West Sussex and are now working towards achieving the full core offer of services. These are Bognor, Worthing and Chichester. In total, 650,000 capital and 389,000 revenue has been allocated to support the development of these centres in addition to the existing SSLP funding. We also provided a rural uplift element for West Sussex of 40,000 revenue and 100,000 capital for spending on the development of children's centre services in rural areas in the county.
	For phase 2, West Sussex has a target to deliver 30 new children's centres. The total Sure Start specific grant allocation for these centres is 5,478,575 capital and 4,563,728 revenue. The local authority is currently identifying areas and developing early plans to progress these centres. Many of these centres will be linked to extended schools where appropriate to local needs. West Sussex and all other local authorities are required to provide basic information on early plans and location of phase 2 children's centres by the end of November 2005. Therefore planned locations for these centres are not yet known.

Teachers

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what schemes of in-service professional development are available to teachers in maintained schools.

Jacqui Smith: Schools are free to decide on the sources of professional development for their staff. This may be from a wide variety of providers or delivered internally within schools. It is not therefore possible to maintain central records of such provision. Significant support is provided by the Government through their primary and secondary strategies.

Teachers

Paul Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) classroom assistants and (b) teachers were employed in Pudsey in each year since 1997.

Jacqui Smith: The following table gives the full-time equivalent number of teaching assistants and teachers in service in Pudsey constituency in each January between 1997 and 2005.
	
		Maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools, all special schools(59) and pupil referral units: Full time equivalent number of teaching and support staffposition in January each year:1997 to 2005Pudsey parliamentary constituency
		
			  FTE qualified teachers FTE other teaching staff FTE teaching assistants FTE other support staff 
		
		
			 1997 830 10 150 140 
			 1998 830 10 170 150 
			 1999 840 0 180 150 
			 2000 860 10 190 170 
			 2001 880 10 200 210 
			 2002 950 10 290 210 
			 2003 950 10 300 210 
			 2004 950 20 310 210 
			 2005 930 20 310 240 
		
	
	(59)Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools.
	Note:
	Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
	Source:
	Annual School Census

Teachers

James Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether her Department has (a) commissioned and (b) sought actuarial estimates of the effect on life expectancy of increasing the retirement age of teachers by five years.

Jacqui Smith: We have not commissioned specific estimates from the Government Actuary on the impact on life expectancy of the proposal to increase to 65 the normal pension age in the Teachers' Pension Scheme. However, based on the mortality assumptions adopted by the Government Actuary for the 2001 actuarial review of the Teachers' Pension Scheme, the life expectancy of a male teacher retiring at a) age 60 is 25 years and b) age 65 it is 20 years. For female teachers, the corresponding figures are 28 years at age 60 and 23 years at age 65.
	The Government Actuary will take account of any changes to the assumptions adopted for 2001 valuation as part of the current valuation of the Teachers' Pension Scheme. I expect to receive the Government Actuary's report early in 2006.

Teachers

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many entry-level vacancies for newly qualified teachers there were in schools in England in 200304.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is not held centrally. However vacancies in 2005 stood at 0.7 per cent. This compares to 1.4 per cent. in 2001.

Teachers

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the likely effect on teachers' future pension entitlements of her proposed changes from management points to teaching and learning responsibility payments.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 14 October 2005
	Individual teachers whose management allowance ceases and who do not receive a teaching and learning responsibility payment of comparable value will have their pension entitlement protected for up to five years through a combination of salary safeguarding and the use of the best salary in the last three years for their pension calculation. Thereafter, subsequent salary progression will have mitigated the earlier loss of a management allowance.

Visual/Auditory/Kinaesthetic Learners

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what estimate she has made of the number of (a) visual, (b) auditory and (c) kinaesthetic learners studying in schools;
	(2)  what research has been funded by her Department into the efficacy of the visual-auditory-kinaesthetic learning styles model recommended on her Department's teachernet website on effective teaching.

Jacqui Smith: No estimate has been made by the Secretary of State of the number of visual, auditory and kinaesthetic learners in schools. The Department has not funded any specific research into the visual-auditory-kinaesthetic learning styles model. There are many different models of learning styles.
	We encourage teachers to have an understanding that there is evidence for significant differences in the way learners approach their learning, and that they can all benefit from experiencing different approaches to learning. The visual-auditory-kinaesthetic model is only a simple example of this.

Youth Services

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of 11 to 19-year-olds (a) engaged in more than two hours of sporting activity per week, (b) had access to youth groups and (c) were involved in volunteering in each year since 1995.

Jacqui Smith: The 2004/05 school sport survey found that, within school sport partnerships, 69 per cent. of 5to 16-year-olds were spending at least two hours in a typical week on high quality PE and school sport, within and beyond the curriculum. This is up 7 percentage points from the 2003/04 survey. The survey, which ran for the first time in 2003/04, does not collect data for 16to 19-year-olds.
	All local authorities have a duty to provide youth servicesto support the development of young people, engage them with relevant services and prepare them for the responsibilities of adulthood. The National Youth Agency audit data for 2003/04 shows that local youth services in England reached 23.5 per cent. of young people aged 13 to 19 years.
	The Department does not hold annual data on young people's levels of volunteering. However, the 2001 Young People's Social Attitudes Survey found that 16 per cent. of 12 to 19-year-olds reported doing some voluntary or charity work in the previous six months (Park, Phillips and Johnson Young people in Britain: the attitudes and experiences of 1219 year olds DFES 2004). The Home Office Citizenship Survey in 2003 found that 45 per cent. of 16 to 24-year-olds participate at least once a month in informal volunteering.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Arts Council

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much funding has been allocated by the Arts Council in Northern Ireland over the last five years, broken down by (a) Westminster parliamentary constituency and (b) district council area.

David Hanson: The funding allocated by the Arts Council to each district council area over the last five years is contained in Table A.
	The funding allocated by the Arts Council to each parliamentary constituency over the last five years is contained in Table B.
	Figures quoted for 200506 reflect the funding allocated to date in the current Financial Year.
	
		Table A: Arts Council funding by district council area -- 
		
			 Local authority Fund 200102 200203 200304 
		
		
			 Antrim Exchequer 0 3,000 18,200 
			 Antrim Lottery 0 69,164 112,446 
			 Ards Exchequer 4,770 6,880 29,903 
			 Ards Lottery 0 103,845 104,599 
			 Armagh Exchequer 690 2,550 155,497 
			 Armagh Lottery 0 273,153 148,332 
			 Ballymena Exchequer 100 0 12,100 
			 Ballymena Lottery 0 16,544 194,695 
			 Ballymoney Exchequer 0 1,400 2,775 
			 Ballymoney Lottery 0 106,304 34,455 
			 Banbridge Exchequer 2,400 730 9,970 
			 Banbridge Lottery 0 42,557 22,158 
			 Belfast Exchequer 202,101 165,192 6,179,408 
			 Belfast Lottery 4,726,925 2,625,512 5,844,496 
			 Carrickfergus Exchequer 4,200 11,600 17,000 
			 Carrickfergus Lottery 0 39,672 5,000 
			 Castlereagh Exchequer 5,800 2,150 58,781 
			 Castlereagh Lottery 36,990 39,949 229,637 
			 Coleraine Exchequer 1,650 3,389 145,100 
			 Coleraine Lottery 1,427,516 5,244 75,794 
			 Cookstown Exchequer 850 6,500 0 
			 Cookstown Lottery 0 151,465 28,211 
			 Craigavon Exchequer 1,200 2,900 47,719 
			 Craigavon Lottery 203,384 146,646 83,137 
			 Derry Exchequer 14,795 41,103 659,651 
			 Derry Lottery 1,385,189 1,043,479 1,520,942 
			 Down Exchequer 15,835 33,870 63,530 
			 Down Lottery 127,832 172,739 60,455 
			 Dungannon Exchequer 10,000 10,000 14,000 
			 Dungannon Lottery 6,820 236,144 68,808 
			 Fermanagh Exchequer 10,000 2,945 84,152 
			 Fermanagh Lottery 49,305 98,956 71,800 
			 Larne Exchequer 0 1,350 12,570 
			 Larne Lottery 269,976 14,192 32,427 
			 Limavady Exchequer 0 2,430 0 
			 Lisburn Exchequer 9,050 21,420 102,788 
			 Lisburn Lottery 25,300 120,136 126,916 
			 Magherafelt Exchequer 10,000 0 0 
			 Magherafelt Lottery 0 16,156 10,712 
			 Moyle Exchequer 0 7,330 10,800 
			 Moyle Lottery 0 40,000 0 
			 Newry and Mourne Exchequer 8,475 18,900 141,845 
			 Newry and Mourne Lottery 0 466,064 77,780 
			 Newtownabbey Exchequer 5,120 6,350 11,780 
			 Newtownabbey Lottery 20,055 49,171 47,559 
			 North Down Exchequer 33,000 17,025 75,106 
			 North Down Lottery 107,847 254,128 60,940 
			 Omagh Exchequer 0 3,000 7,388 
			 Omagh Lottery 55,312 198,300 163,167 
			 Strabane Exchequer 960 5,600 18,200 
			 Strabane Lottery 48,250 768,908 58,380 
			 Total  8,831,697 7,476,042 17,061,109 
		
	
	
		Table A: Arts Council funding by district council area -- 
		
			 Local authority Fund 200405 200506 to date Total of award 
		
		
			 Antrim Exchequer 27,000 0 48,200 
			 Antrim Lottery 210,732 102,264 494,606 
			 Ards Exchequer 22,480 17,075 81,108 
			 Ards Lottery 37,200 61,660 307,304 
			 Armagh Exchequer 148,500 160,500 467,737 
			 Armagh Lottery 29,943 12,078 463,506 
			 Ballymena Exchequer 1,000 600 13,800 
			 Ballymena Lottery 11,441 0 222,680 
			 Ballymoney Exchequer 0 0 4,175 
			 Ballymoney Lottery 210,599 0 351,358 
			 Banbridge Exchequer 8,050 17,890 39,040 
			 Banbridge Lottery 23,853 50,890 139,458 
			 Belfast Exchequer 5,855,118 6,152,505 18,554,324 
			 Belfast Lottery 4,286,636 2,600,925 20,084,493 
			 Carrickfergus Exchequer 2,100 0 34,900 
			 Carrickfergus Lottery 9,000 0 53,672 
			 Castlereagh Exchequer 50,218 17,081 134,030 
			 Castlereagh Lottery 49,084 107,863 463,523 
			 Coleraine Exchequer 138,000 161,370 449,509 
			 Coleraine Lottery 148,003 111,293 1,767,850 
			 Cookstown Exchequer 25,000 30,000 62,350 
			 Cookstown Lottery 99,709 11,173 290,558 
			 Craigavon Exchequer 46,650 50,500 148,969 
			 Craigavon Lottery 446,950 216,427 1,069,544 
			 Derry Exchequer 705,748 747,131 2,168,428 
			 Derry Lottery 2,066,220 461,572 6,477,402 
			 Down Exchequer 43,119 58,125 214,479 
			 Down Lottery 81,830 161,754 604,610 
			 Dungannon Exchequer 15,220 4,700 53,920 
			 Dungannon Lottery 27,066 92,760 431,598 
			 Fermanagh Exchequer 71,474 50,255 218,826 
			 Fermanagh Lottery 578,879 251,094 1,050,034 
			 Larne Exchequer 0 500 14,420 
			 Larne Lottery 19,628 9,614 345,837 
			 Limavady Exchequer 2,500 681 5,611 
			 Lisburn Exchequer 94,331 80,171 307,760 
			 Lisburn Lottery 100,330 181,760 554,442 
			 Magherafelt Exchequer 0 0 10,000 
			 Magherafelt Lottery 14,768 0 41,636 
			 Moyle Exchequer 3,519 0 21,649 
			 Moyle Lottery 222,590 0 262,590 
			 Newry and Mourne Exchequer 84,500 94,750 348,470 
			 Newry and Mourne Lottery 65,807 34,980 644,631 
			 Newtownabbey Exchequer 11,291 6,449 40,990 
			 Newtownabbey Lottery 221,350 18,100 356,235 
			 North Down Exchequer 144,117 178,536 447,784 
			 North Down Lottery 388,374 133,665 944,954 
			 Omagh Exchequer 6,000 5,570 21,958 
			 Omagh Lottery 148,077 67,650 632,506 
			 Strabane Exchequer 10,000 6,477 41,237 
			 Strabane Lottery 337,578 154,360 1,367,476 
			 Total  17,351,582 12,682,747 63,403,176 
		
	
	
		Table B: Arts Council funding by parliamentary constituency -- 
		
			 Parliamentary constituency Fund 200102 200203 200304 
		
		
			 Belfast, East Exchequer 49,439 23,625 290,466 
			 Belfast, East Lottery 244,475 307,915 256,157 
			 Belfast, North Exchequer 25,669 57,000 902,718 
			 Belfast, North Lottery 837,734 1,183,981 709,349 
			 Belfast, South Exchequer 112,068 72,067 4,050,998 
			 Belfast, South Lottery 2,851,405 897,865 4,548,771 
			 Belfast, West Exchequer 22,225 18,370 948,484 
			 Belfast, West Lottery 830,301 254,151 477,419 
			 East Antrim Exchequer 5,320 15,450 37,650 
			 East Antrim Lottery 290,031 53,864 84,986 
			 East Londonderry Exchequer 1,650 5,819 145,100 
			 East Londonderry Lottery 1,427,516 5,244 75,794 
			 Fermanagh and  South Tyrone Exchequer 20,000 12,945 98,152 
			 Fermanagh and  South Tyrone Lottery 56,125 321,409 100,785 
			 Foyle Exchequer 14,795 41,103 659,651 
			 Foyle Lottery 1,385,189 1,043,479 1,520,942 
			 Lagan Valley Exchequer 8,450 19,450 105,958 
			 Lagan Valley Lottery 25,300 136,309 103,586 
			 Mid Ulster Exchequer 10,850 6,500 0 
			 Mid Ulster Lottery 0 181,312 78,746 
			 Newry and Armagh Exchequer 6,615 19,650 281,997 
			 Newry and Armagh Lottery 0 529,285 198,332 
			 North Antrim Exchequer 100 8,730 25,675 
			 North Antrim Lottery 0 162,848 229,150 
			 North Down Exchequer 33,000 19,120 75,106 
			 North Down Lottery 107,847 254,128 84,708 
			 South Antrim Exchequer 4,000 5,100 18,300 
			 South Antrim Lottery 0 118,335 112,446 
			 South Down Exchequer 18,085 33,670 78,155 
			 South Down Lottery 127,832 385,859 105,747 
			 Strangford Exchequer 6,570 6,785 79,846 
			 Strangford Lottery 0 148,590 186,598 
			 Upper Bann Exchequer 1,200 3,630 54,419 
			 Upper Bann Lottery 203,384 146,646 87,783 
			 West Tyrone Exchequer 960 8,600 25,588 
			 West Tyrone Lottery 103,562 967,208 221,547 
			 Total  8,831,697 7,476,042 17,061,109 
		
	
	
		Table B: Arts Council funding by parliamentary constituency -- 
		
			 Parliamentary constituency Fund 200405 200506 to date Total of award 
		
		
			 Belfast, East Exchequer 210,286 167,630 741,446 
			 Belfast, East Lottery 192,886 222,345 1,223,778 
			 Belfast, North Exchequer 769,835 965,638 2,720,860 
			 Belfast, North Lottery 984,491 923,511 4,639,066 
			 Belfast, South Exchequer 4,000,950 4,198,149 12,434,232 
			 Belfast, South Lottery 2,612,073 978,688 11,888,802 
			 Belfast, West Exchequer 919,146 840,368 2,748,593 
			 Belfast, West Lottery 513,301 611,738 2,686,910 
			 East Antrim Exchequer 12,591 4,000 75,011 
			 East Antrim Lottery 28,628 19,614 477,123 
			 East Londonderry Exchequer 140,500 162,051 455,120 
			 East Londonderry Lottery 148,003 111,293 1,767,850 
			 Fermanagh and  South Tyrone Exchequer 86,694 53,755 271,546 
			 Fermanagh and  South Tyrone Lottery 605,945 302,354 1,386,618 
			 Foyle Exchequer 705,748 747,131 2,168,428 
			 Foyle Lottery 2,066,220 461,572 6,477,402 
			 Lagan Valley Exchequer 91,300 98,601 323,219 
			 Lagan Valley Lottery 100,330 107,293 472,818 
			 Mid Ulster Exchequer 25,000 31,200 73,550 
			 Mid Ulster Lottery 114,477 52,673 427,208 
			 Newry and Armagh Exchequer 230,900 249,950 789,112 
			 Newry and Armagh Lottery 45,396 47,058 820,071 
			 North Antrim Exchequer 4,519 600 39,624 
			 North Antrim Lottery 444,630 0 836,628 
			 North Down Exchequer 144,117 178,536 449,879 
			 North Down Lottery 388,374 133,665 968,722 
			 South Antrim Exchequer 27,000 0 54,400 
			 South Antrim Lottery 432,082 110,364 773,227 
			 South Down Exchequer 44,619 63,425 237,954 
			 South Down Lottery 142,917 161,754 924,109 
			 Strangford Exchequer 35,080 17,825 146,106 
			 Strangford Lottery 70,169 129,520 534,877 
			 Upper Bann Exchequer 51,650 50,500 161,399 
			 Upper Bann Lottery 460,070 246,430 1,144,313 
			 West Tyrone Exchequer 16,000 12,047 63,195 
			 West Tyrone Lottery 485,655 222,010 1,999,982 
			 Total  17,351,582 12,682,747 63,403,176

Avian Influenza

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent steps he has taken to protect Northern Ireland from an outbreak of avian influenza.

Angela Smith: The threat posed by the spread of avian influenza is being kept under review and action taken to put in place the necessary protective measures.
	The high pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 strain virus has been confirmed in both Turkey and Romania and all imports of poultry, poultry meat and products into the EU from Turkey and Romania have ceased. The EU agreed on 14 October that measures should be taken to reduce the risk of avian influenza being transmitted from wild birds to poultry and to ensure their early detection systems are effective. The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) is considering with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) what further action may be necessary to implement these requirements.
	DARD has put in place a range of precautionary measures to address the risk of avian influenza entering Northern Ireland and to stop it spreading. Advice regarding biosecurity has recently been re-issued to the poultry industry and is available on the DARD website. An avian influenza survey is being carried out this autumn for the third year in succession on certain types of poultry, and wild bird surveillance is also being undertaken, with the support of the Environment and Heritage Service and other non-Government organisations.
	There is close co-operation between relevant Departments to ensure a joined-up approach to the threat of avian influenza including in respect of the implications for public health. Officials are also working closely with their counterparts from the Department of Agriculture and Food in the Republic of Ireland in relation to avian influenza, which is of mutual interest in the context of the island of Ireland.
	DARD has a contingency plan in place, which has been approved by the EU, to ensure that any outbreak of avian influenza is dealt with quickly and effectively. This plan is continually being reviewed and updated, and has been tested on two occasions in recent weeks.

Cancers

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the age standardised mortality rates for all cancers for men and women in each health board in Northern Ireland were in each of the last 10 years.

Shaun Woodward: The information requested is shown in the following table.
	
		Deaths due to AH cancers(60) (ICD-10 COO-C97)European age-standardised mortality rate (per 100,000), by sex, year of death and health board (19952004)
		
			  EHSSB NHSSB SHSSB WHSSB 
			  Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female 
		
		
			 1995 259.9 166.1 241.0 153.0 229.7 156.7 246.8 174.1 
			 1996 251.3 161.9 244.5 157.7 218.5 159.2 266.8 162.9 
			 1997 267.1 169.4 223.6 160.9 211.8 161.7 236.5 157.8 
			 1998 264.7 160.2 225.5 167.6 240.2 153.7 250.0 160.9 
			 1999 234.7 167.6 239.4 157.6 236.5 178.2 237.3 154.7 
			 2000 235.4 170.3 202.6 170.3 213.6 163.3 230.8 159.2 
			 2001 252.3 154.1 237.8 146.0 197.8 157.1 225.5 191.9 
			 2002 236.8 157.7 202.9 145.4 227.1 139.7 218.1 156,1 
			 2003 234.2 164.3 211.5 148.1 205.3 162.2 208.6 149.2 
			 2004 232.4 158.6 224.4 150.1 202.7 154.4 212.1 161.3 
		
	
	(60)Includes non-melanoma skin cancer.
	This information has been provided by the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry and is the most up to date currently available.

Cardiomyopathy

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many deaths in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years cardiomyopathy was (a) the cause and (b) a contributory factor.

Angela Smith: The following table gives the number of deaths registered in Northern Ireland for each year between 1995 and 2004, where cardiomyopathy 1 was recorded as either (a) the primary cause of death or (b) a contributory factor but not the primary cause of death.
	1 International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision code 142 for years 200104 and Ninth Revision code 425 for years 19952000.
	
		Number of deaths registered in Northern Ireland where cardiomyopathy was recorded as (a) the primary cause of death or (b) a contributory factor but not the primary cause of death, 1995 to 2004
		
			  Number of deaths registered where cardiomyopathy was: 
			   Registration year  (a) the primary cause of death (b) a contributory factor but not the primary cause of death 
		
		
			 1995 25 26 
			 1996 35 27 
			 1997 35 24 
			 1998 27 24 
			 1999 33 26 
			 2000 24 27 
			 2001 29 16 
			 2002 24 19 
			 2003 24 22 
			 2004 (61) 25 22 
		
	
	(61)Data for 2004 is provisional

Care Homes

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many care home places there were in Northern Ireland in 1996.

Shaun Woodward: At 31 March 1996, there were 16,698 care home places in Northern Ireland. This information includes places in residential and nursing homes, and places in children's homes as well as those for adults.

Care Homes

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many care home places there are in the Province.

Shaun Woodward: At 31 March 2004 (the latest date for which information is available), there were 15,330 care home places in Northern Ireland. This information includes places in residential and nursing homes, and places in children's homes as well as those for adults.

Child Deaths

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many children died in accidents away from home, other than road deaths, in each of the last five years for which figures are available, broken down by the age groups (a) zero to seven, (b) eight to 13 and (c) 14 to 18 years.

Angela Smith: The following table gives the number of deaths registered in Northern Ireland, for each year from 2000 to 2004, due to non-transport related accidents 1 outside the home by age-groups (a) zero to seven, (b) eight to 13 and (c) 14 to 18 years respectively.
	1 International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision codes W00-X59 for years 200104 and Ninth Revision codes E850-E869, E880-E928, and E929.2-E929.9 for year 2000.
	
		Number of deaths registered in Northern Ireland due to non-transport related accidents outside the home by age groups(a) 07, (b) 813 and (c) 1418 years respectively, 200004
		
			  Age group 
			 Registration year (a) 07 years (b) 813 years (c) 1418 years 
		
		
			 2000 3 2 2 
			 2001 1 1 3 
			 2002 1 1 4 
			 2003 0 1 2 
			 2004(62) 3 1 1 
		
	
	(62)Data for 2004 are provisional

Child Deaths

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many children died in accidents in the home, other than fire, in each of the last five years for which figures are available, broken down by the age groups (a) zero to seven, (b) eight to 13 and (c) 14 to 18 years.

Angela Smith: The following table gives the number of deaths registered in Northern Ireland, for each year between 2000 and 2004, due to domestic non-fire related accidents 1 broken down by the age groups (a) zero to seven, (b) eight to 13 and (c) 14 to 18 years respectively.
	1 International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision codes W00-W99 and X10-X59 for years 200104 and Ninth Revision codes E850-E869, E880-E888, E900-E928, and E929.2-E929.9 (excluding E929.4) for year 2000.
	
		Number of deaths registered in Northern Ireland due to domestic non-fire related accidents by the age groups (a) 07, (b) 813 and (c) 1418 years respectively, 200004
		
			  Age group 
			 Registration year (a) 07 years (b) 813 years (c) 1418 years 
		
		
			 2000 1 0 2 
			 2001 0 0 3 
			 2002 1 0 3 
			 2003 2 0 2 
			 2004(63) 2 0 2 
		
	
	(63)Data for 2004 are provisional.

Deaf Children

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many children suffering from deafness have been in full-time education in Northern Ireland in each year that figures have been recorded.

Angela Smith: The requested information is as follows:
	
		
			  School year Number of pupils recorded as suffering from deafness 
		
		
			 200203 117 
			 200304 116 
			 200405 128 
		
	
	Figures prior to 200203 were only collected in respect of children with a statement of special educational needs.

Dentistry

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of Northern Ireland's adult population is registered with a dentist; and how many children are registered with a dentist.

Shaun Woodward: Information requested is provided in the following table:
	
		
			  Registered 
		
		
			 Percentage of adults registered with a NHS dentist,  June 2005(64)(5508170065) 64.0 
			 Number of children registered with a NHS dentist,  June 2005(65) 279,839 
		
	
	(64)Figures are derived from dental registration data and the 2004 mid-year estimate of population (latest available from General Registrar Northern Ireland).
	(65)Figures for registered patients include a small proportion who may reside temporarily elsewhere in the UK.
	Source:
	Central Services Agency.

Dentistry

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of children in Northern Ireland were registered with a dentist in 1997.

Shaun Woodward: Information requested is provided in the table.
	
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 Children registered with an NHS Dentist, June 1997 61.3 
		
	
	Source:
	Central Services Agency.

Dentistry

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many adults in Northern Ireland are registered with a dentist.

Shaun Woodward: Information requested is provided in the following table.
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Adults registered with an NHS dentist, June 2005(66)(5508170067) 655,585 
		
	
	Notes:
	(66)Figures are derived from dental registration data.
	(67)Figures for registered patients include a small proportion who may reside temporarily elsewhere in the UK.
	Source:
	Central Services Agency

Dentistry

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of adults in the Province were registered with a dentist in 1997.

Shaun Woodward: Information requested is as follows.
	
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 Adults registered with an NHS dentist, June 1997 56.8 
		
	
	Source:
	Central Services Agency

Dentistry

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many adults in the Province were registered with a dentist in 1997.

Shaun Woodward: Information requested is provided in the following table.
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Adults registered with an NHS dentist, June 1997(68)(5508170069) 683,750 
		
	
	Notes:
	(68)Figures are derived from dental registration data.
	(69)Figures for registered patients include a small proportion who may reside temporarily elsewhere in the UK.
	Source:
	Central Services Agency

Dentistry

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of children in the Province are registered with a dentist.

Shaun Woodward: Information requested is provided in the following table.
	
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 Children registered with an NHS dentist, June 2005(70)(5508170071) 64.0 
		
	
	Notes:
	(70)Figures are derived from dental registration data and the 2004 mid-year estimate of population (latest available from General Registrar Northern Ireland).
	(71)Figures for registered patients include a small proportion who may reside temporarily elsewhere in the UK.
	Source:
	Central Services Agency.

Domiciliary Care

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many individuals are receiving domiciliary care packages in the Province; and how many such individuals there were in 1996.

Shaun Woodward: At 31 March 2005 (the latest date for which information is available), there were 8,184 persons in receipt of care managed domiciliary packages. At 31 March 1996, there were 6,095 persons in receipt of such packages.

Education and Library Boards

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what opportunities education and library boards have to amend financial schemes or resource plans which the Department has required them to work to.

Angela Smith: Under Article 10 of the Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 a board may, with the approval of the department, at anytime submit a revised resource allocation plan to the department for consideration and approval with or without modifications.

Farm-related Accidents

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many farm-related accidents resulted in a death in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

Angela Smith: The numbers of farm-related accidents resulting in a death in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years are as follows: Six in 200001; four in 200102; six in 200203; eight in 200304; and five in 200405. The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland continues to work, in partnership with other key organisations such as the Ulster Farmers Union, to improve health and safety performance in the agriculture sector, particularly in relation to vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly.

Fireworks

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many injuries from fireworks there have been in Northern Ireland in each year since 2001.

Shaun Woodward: Information on the number of patients reporting to AE Departments and Minor Injuries Units with injuries from fireworks, since 2001, over a selected 45 week period covering the end of October and start of November (Halloween period) is available and is detailed in the following table:
	
		
			  Number of firework injuries 
		
		
			 2004 55 
			 2003 45 
			 2002 38 
			 2001 136 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures do not include injuries from fireworks outside the survey period and will not include injuries which were not sufficiently serious to warrant attendance at an AE Department or Minor Injuries Unit.

Health Services

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was spent on (a) hospital and (b) community health services in Northern Ireland in 2003.

Shaun Woodward: Total expenditure on hospital services in 2003 was 991 million and total expenditure on community health services in 2003 was 223 million.

Health Services

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the total spending on (a) hospital and (b) community health services was in Northern Ireland during the last 12 months.

Shaun Woodward: The information requested is not available at present. Expenditure information relating to the 200405 financial year is currently being collected and will be available in early 2006.

Health Services

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the total spending on (a) hospital and (b) community health services in the Province was in 1999.

Shaun Woodward: Total expenditure on hospital services in 1999 was 694 million and total expenditure on community health services in 1999 was 142 million.

Hospital Consultant Posts

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many full-time hospital consultant posts there are in the Province; and how many there were (a) five and (b) 10 years ago.

Shaun Woodward: Information requested is provided in the following tables.
	
		Number of hospital medical consultants posts for each of the given years
		
			  Medical consultant posts 
			  Headcount Whole-time equivalent 
		
		
			 2005 1,048 1,001.30 
			 2000 833 798.52 
			 1995(72) n/a n/a 
		
	
	(72)1995 figures were not available.
	Notes:
	1.Vacancy information for 2000 was not available for Craigavon Area Hospital Group HSS Trust and Royal Group of Hospitals HSS Trust, therefore the figures quoted for these years for these trusts are staff in post as opposed to establishment figures.
	2.Figures for Royal Group of Hospitals HSS Trust exclude consultant joint appointments with QUB.
	3.2000 figures for Homefirst Community HSS Trust have been sourced from manual records.
	4.2000 vacancy figures have been estimated by Newry and Mourne HSS Trust.
	Source:
	NI HSS Trusts
	
		Number of hospital dental consultants posts for each of the given years
		
			  Dental consultant posts 
			  Headcount Whole-time equivalent 
		
		
			 2005 7 6.18 
			 2000 8 5.81 
			 1995(73) n/a n/a 
		
	
	(73)1995 figures were not available.
	Notes:
	1.Vacancy information for 2000 was not available for Craigavon Area Hospital Group HSS Trust and Royal Group of Hospitals HSS Trust, therefore the figures quoted for these years for these trusts are staff in post as opposed to establishment figures.
	2.Figures for Royal Group of Hospitals HSS Trust exclude consultant joint appointments with QUB.
	Source:
	NI HSS Trusts
	
		Total number of hospital consultants posts for each of the given years
		
			  Total consultant posts 
			  Headcount Whole-time equivalent 
		
		
			 2005 1,055 1,007.48 
			 2000 841 804.33 
			 1995(74) n/a n/a 
		
	
	(74)1995 Figures were not available.
	Notes:
	1.Vacancy information for 2000 was not available for Craigavon Area Hospital Group HSS Trust and Royal Group of Hospitals HSS Trust, therefore the figures quoted for these years for these Trusts are Staff in Post as opposed to Establishment figures.
	2.Figures for Royal Group of Hospitals HSS Trust exclude consultant joint appointments with QUB.
	3.2000 figures for Homefirst Community HSS Trust have been sourced from manual records.
	4.2000 vacancy figures have been estimated by Newry and Mourne HSS Trust.
	Source:
	NI HSS Trusts

Hospital Doctor Posts

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many new full-time hospital doctor posts have been established in the Province in each of the last five years.

Shaun Woodward: Information requested is not available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Hospital Treatments

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will estimate the average waiting time for (a) hospital in-patient treatment and (b) initial out-patient assessment in Northern Ireland in the last year for which figures are available.

Shaun Woodward: Waiting list information is collected by time band. It is therefore not possible to calculate the arithmetic mean (average) length of time waiting. It is however possible to identify the median or mid point waiting time band.
	(a) The median waiting time band for in-patients who were waiting for treatment at 30 June 2005 was 0 to two months.
	(b) The median waiting time band for out-patients who were waiting for their first appointment at 30 June 2005 was three to five months.
	In July this year, I announced a major programme of reform to reduce waiting times and eradicate long waiters. I intend to make a further announcement to outline proposals to tackle outpatient waiting times later this year.

Hospital Treatments

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average waiting time for hospital in-patient treatment in the Province was in 1997.

Shaun Woodward: Waiting list information is collected by time band. It is therefore not possible to calculate the arithmetic mean (average) length of time waiting. It is however possible to identify the median or mid point waiting time band.
	The median waiting time band for in-patients who were waiting for treatment at 30 June 1997 was 35 months.

Hospital Treatments

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average waiting time for initial outpatient assessment in the Province was in 1997.

Shaun Woodward: Waiting list information is collected by time band. It is therefore not possible to calculate the arithmetic mean (average) length of time waiting. It is however possible to identify the median or mid point waiting time band.
	The median waiting time band for outpatients who were waiting for their first appointment at 30 June 1997 was 02 months.

Hospital-acquired Infections

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have died from (a) hospital acquired and (b) other healthcare acquired infections in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years.

Shaun Woodward: The information requested is not available.

Hospital-acquired Infections

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will estimate the costs resulting from all healthcare-acquired infections in the Province in the most recent year for which information is available.

Shaun Woodward: The information requested is not available.

Infant Mortality

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the infant mortality rate was in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years.

Angela Smith: The following table details the infant mortality rate 1 in Northern Ireland for each registration year between 1995 and 2004.
	1 The infant mortality rate is defined as the number of deaths of children in their first year of life per1,000 live births.
	
		
			 Registration year Infant mortality rate 
		
		
			 1995 7.1 
			 1996 5.8 
			 1997 5.6 
			 1998 5.6 
			 1999 6.4 
			 2000 5.0 
			 2001 6.0 
			 2002 4.6 
			 2003 5.2 
			 2004(75) 5.3 
		
	
	(75)Data for 2004 are provisional

Jim Gray

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on how many occasions the Police Service of Northern Ireland notified Jim Gray that there was a threat on his life.

Shaun Woodward: The Police Service of Northern Ireland does not provide information on matters of intelligence relating to the security of individuals. However, the service takes such matters very seriously, and when it believes an individual to be under threat it takes steps to inform and advise them with regard to personal security.

Local Government Finance

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many health and safety fines have been issued by each of the local government councils in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

Angela Smith: Local government councils in Northern Ireland do not issue health and safety fines. In common with the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland, Local government councils bring prosecutions for breaches of legislation to the courts and if a prosecution is successful the courts will decide if a fine should be imposed or not. The number of successful prosecutions taken by each of the Local government councils in each of the last five years that led to fines being imposed is set out in the following table. Only those councils that took prosecutions are listed. A breakdown figure for councils before 200102 is not available.
	
		
			  200102 200203 200304 200405 
		
		
			 Ards1 
			 Ballymena  1 1  
			 Banbridge   1  
			 Belfast 1 3 1  
			 Coleraine   1  
			 Fermanagh  1   
			 Limavady  1 1  
			 Lisburn 2   1 
			 Newry and Mourne  1 1  
			 Total 3 7 6 2

Maritime Safety

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many incidents needing medical attention have occurred on beaches in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years.

Shaun Woodward: Information is only readily available for the most recent year, 1 October 2004 to 30 September 2005, during which the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service attended 37 incidents requiring medical assistance on beaches and their environs.

MRSA

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many cases of MRSA were identified within each (a) hospital and (b) health trust in the Province in each month of each the last three years.

Shaun Woodward: The information is not available in the format requested, however the number of cases of MRSA that were identified within each health trust in the Province is available quarterly for the last three years and is presented in the following tables.
	
		Number of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia patient episodes reported to CDSC (NI) by trust and quarter
		
			  2002 2003 
			 Health trust July to September October to December January to March April to June July to September October to December 
		
		
			 Altnagelvin Hospitals 2 3 5 2 4 6 
			 Belfast City Hospital 13 13 10 13 15 17 
			 Causeway 4 2 0 5 2 2 
			 Craigavon Area Hospital Group 6 2 2 6 5 12 
			 Down Lisburn 0 3 3 5 2 2 
			 Green Park 1 0 2 0 2 1 
			 Mater Infirmorum Hospital 4 6 7 5 7 6 
			 Newry and Mourne 2 0 1 4 1 4 
			 Royal Group of Hospitals 4 8 9 11 12 10 
			 Sperrin Lakeland 1 0 6 2 6 1 
			 Ulster Community and Hospitals 8 11 7 5 7 4 
			 United Hospitals 6 9 10 17 9 10 
			 Northern Ireland 51 57 62 75 72 75 
		
	
	
		
			  2004 2005 
			 Health trust January to March April to June July to September October to December January to March April to June(76) 
		
		
			 Altnagelvin Hospitals 10 6 1 5 5 7 
			 Belfast City Hospital 18 9 13 7 7 18 
			 Causeway 3 1 4 1 3 3 
			 Craigavon Area Hospital Group 7 8 5 4 4 6 
			 Down Lisburn 5 4 5 3 4 0 
			 Green Park 1 1 0 0 1 2 
			 Mater Infirmorum Hospital 4 0 0 5 4 7 
			 Newry and Mourne 2 0 1 2 0 0 
			 Royal Group of Hospitals 13 8 11 12 13 13 
			 Sperrin Lakeland 7 5 4 0 2 1 
			 Ulster Community and Hospitals 2 12 12 8 4 11 
			 United Hospitals 13 10 10 8 10 5 
			 Northern Ireland 85 64 66 55 57 73 
		
	
	(76)Figures are provisional.
	Notes:
	1.MRSA patient episodes '(MRSA PE) is defined as the total number of patients from whom blood cultureset(s) collected during the quarter grew MRS A. If repeat specimens were collected from a single patient, and the patient was considered to have had two episodes of bacteraemia, then they should be counted as two patients. As an arbitrary measure, if positive blood culture sets are collected more than 14 days apart, they should be considered as reflecting different episodes.
	2.Please note that it is not possible to state how many of these patients with MRS A positive blood cultures acquired their infection in hospital. Some will have been acquired in hospital but others will have acquired infection before admission to hospital, either in the community, or in another healthcare institution.
	3.Reports of patient episodes from a Trust may relate to patients who became infected in, and were reported by, another Trust. Patients whose infections were acquired in one hospital, and were subsequently transferred to another hospital, either within the same Trust or to another Trust, may have been counted more than once.
	4.Many confounding factors will influence numbers within Trusts. For instance, Trusts with different clinical mixes and specialties will have different numbers of patients at high risk of MRSA infections. For example, a hospital with a specialised renal unit would treat high numbers of patients who are at increased risk of infection and re-infection.
	Source:
	Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre NI.

Multiple Sclerosis

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many patients within each health board area in the Province are waiting to commence beta interferon or glatiramer for multiple sclerosis.

Shaun Woodward: The number of patients within each health board area in the Province waiting for beta interferon or glatiramer treatment for multiple sclerosis at 30 September 2005 are as follows.
	
		Beta interferon/glatiramer treatment at 30 September 2005
		
			 Health board Number waiting 
		
		
			 Eastern 56 
			 Northern 56 
			 Southern 16 
			 Western 19 
			 NI total 147 
		
	
	Note:
	Patients currently suspended from the waiting list are excluded from these figures.

Operations

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will estimate how many hospital operations were postponed in Northern Ireland in the last 12 months.

Shaun Woodward: The information requested is not available.

Operations

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many operating theatres are in operation in each hospital in Northern Ireland.

Shaun Woodward: The number of operating theatres in each hospital in Northern Ireland at 31 March 2005 is detailed in the following table:
	
		
			  Hospital Number of operating theatres at 31 March 2005 
		
		
			 Altnagelvin 12 
			 Antrim 8 
			 Ards 2 
			 Belfast City 10 
			 Belvoir Park 1 
			 Causeway 5 
			 Craigavon Area 7 
			 Daisy Hill 3 
			 Downe 2 
			 Erne 2 
			 Lagan Valley 3 
			 Mater 5 
			 Mid-Ulster 2 
			 Musgrave Park 8 
			 RBHSC 3 
			 Royal Maternity 2 
			 Royal Victoria 21 
			 South Tyrone 3 
			 Tyrone County 3 
			 Ulster 10 
			 Whiteabbey 2 
			 Total 114

Orange Halls

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects legislation to provide for the de-rating of Orange halls to come into force; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: The draft Rates (Capital values, etc.) (Northern Ireland) Order 2005, which was published on 7 October for consultation, provides for the full exemption of community halls from rates. It is intended that the Order will come into operation in April 2006.
	The award of full exemption will be conditional on halls being made available for use by the wider community; not having a liquor licence; and not being occupied by a registered club. This will ensure that assistance is directed towards organisations which are unable to generate income to assist with the payment of rates.

Planning

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many planning applications there have been in each of the six divisional offices in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years; and how many applications this represents per employee dealing with such matters at each office.

Angela Smith: The information requested is as follows:
	
		Applications received by division and by financial year
		
			 Division 200203 200304 200405 
		
		
			 Ballymena 4,001 5,328 4,975 
			 Belfast 3,592 3,840 3,862 
			 Craigavon 6,060 7,493 6,846 
			 Downpatrick 5,001 5,036 6,090 
			 Londonderry 3,556 4,349 4,969 
			 Omagh 5,501 6,800 9,205 
			 Total 27,711 32,846 35,947 
		
	
	It is not possible to assess in a reliable way how many applications this represents per employee because a number of development control staff (both professional and technological staff as well as administrative staff) can be involved to varying degrees in dealing with each planning application at different stages in the planning process.
	The number of development control staff in each division during 200304 and 200405 is set out as follows. The breakdown of development control staff by division is not available for 200203.
	
		Development control staffing figures
		
			 Division 200304 200405 
		
		
			 Ballymena 48 58 
			 Belfast 36 55 
			 Craigavon 56 78 
			 Downpatrick 48 62 
			 Londonderry 39 55 
			 Omagh 62 68 
			 Total 289 376

Police

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average number of police officers was in each district command unit in the Province in each of the last five years.

Shaun Woodward: The following table details the end of year actual strength full-time equivalent figures for each DCU in each of the past five years.
	
		
			  2001 2002 2003 
			 DCU REG FTR PTR REG FTR PTR REG FTR PTR 
		
		
			 Ballymena 119 23 50 119 22 46 138 21 43 
			 Ballymoney 60 14 8 70 12 7 64 12 6 
			 Coleraine 118 42 34 130 39 31 138 33 26 
			 Fermanagh 197 90 35 186 72 32 179 59 25 
			 Foyle 242 104 8 227 80 8 237 69 8 
			 Larne 71 25 28 75 16 27 82 17 24 
			 Limavady 67 27 7 74 23 7 79 22 6 
			 Magherafelt 92 55 7 93 48 7 90 45 5 
			 Moyle 24 11 2 29 10 2 29 10 3 
			 Omagh 144 42 31 123 34 30 129 33 24 
			 Strabane 111 63 22 100 55 22 102 46 20 
			 Ards 133 51 90 123 46 85 144 49 77 
			 Armagh 135 66 21 140 54 20 134 49 19 
			 Banbridge 80 30 36 82 28 35 87 27 32 
			 Cookstown 87 41 7 89 28 5 91 24 4 
			 Craigavon 194 78 42 184 56 38 193 47 37 
			 Dungannon and S Tyrone 175 81 14 165 57 13 149 47 13 
			 Down 159 69 28 159 59 26 159 55 26 
			 Newry and Mourne 188 97 4 180 78 4 190 64 4 
			 Antrim 110 55 23 103 44 21 140 50 20 
			 Belfast East 226 140 86 198 108 80 216 114 73 
			 Belfast North 364 120 102 359 95 96 341 79 83 
			 Belfast South 325 148 88 326 119 81 345 107 79 
			 Belfast West 286 217 0 261 180 0 237 155 0 
			 Carrickfergus 83 54 35 70 50 33 81 41 33 
			 Castlereagh 118 71 57 111 66 53 120 59 51 
			 Lisburn 220 113 64 235 101 61 234 87 56 
			 Newtownabbey 144 27 57 136 24 53 138 25 47 
			 North Down 150 97 53 143 81 44 154 69 42 
			 Total 4,422 2,051 1,039 4,290 1,685 967 4,420 1,515 886 
		
	
	
		
			  2004 2005 
			 DCU REG FTR PTR REG FTR PTR/ CONPT 
		
		
			 Ballymena 139 17 34 148.25 14 32 
			 Ballymoney 61 12 6 67 9 5 
			 Coleraine 128.75 29 26 151.75 23 22/26 
			 Fermanagh 167.5 51 23 161 44 21 
			 Foyle 258.75 60 8 251.75 50 7 
			 Larne 72 16 22 69 11 16/2 
			 Limavady 76 21 4 83 14 4 
			 Magherafelt 87.5 41 4 92.5 22 4 
			 Moyle 31 9 3 37 7 3 
			 Omagh 126.75 30 20 123.75 25 19 
			 Strabane 110.75 39 19 114 32 16 
			 Ards 144.75 35 73 145.25 29 69 
			 Armagh 125 50 15 127.5 37 16 
			 Banbridge 93.5 19.75 28 97.5 11.75 28/7 
			 Cookstown 85 22 2 89 14 3 
			 Craigavon 187.75 41 31 191 27 28 
			 Dungannon and S Tyrone 136.75 39 9 141.75 28 7 
			 Down 163.5 48 25 159.5 35 25 
			 Newry and Mourne 197 50 4 205 45 4 
			 Antrim 140.75 47 17 138.75 39 17 
			 Belfast East 215 118 68 208 85 60 
			 Belfast North 335.75 78 74 342.75 71 67 
			 Belfast South 361.5 80 74 387.5 53 72 
			 Belfast West 230 130.75 0 231 81.75 0 
			 Carrickfergus 74 37 30 77 25 26/2 
			 Castlereagh 127.5 56 46 118.25 42 41 
			 Lisburn 221.75 76 61 241.75 41 51/59 
			 Newtownabbey 151 22 51 161 22 46/26 
			 North Down 152.75 44 38 143.25 34 36 
			 Total 4,402.25 1,318.5 815 4,504.75 971.5 745/122 
		
	
	Note:
	Record No. 637126

Police

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average police response time was in each district command unit in the Province in each of the last five years.

Shaun Woodward: The Police Service of Northern Ireland does not currently record the response times to calls and this information could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
	However, the current policing plan requires PSNI to work towards establishing a baseline for measuring police response times to emergency calls. Work is ongoing to establish how this may be achieved, and a report will be passed to the chief constable at the end of the financial year.

Police

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been spent on the grid leadership programme by the Police Service of Northern Ireland since it was introduced.

Shaun Woodward: The expenditure to date is 846,581.06.

Police

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many times grievance procedures have been initiated by staff at the police training college in Northern Ireland in each year since 1998.

Shaun Woodward: I am advised 19 grievance procedures were initiated by staff attached to the police college in the period 1998 to present. The breakdown by year is as follows:
	
		
			  Number commenced 
		
		
			 1998 0 
			 1999 1 
			 2000 3 
			 2001 2 
			 2002 3 
			 2003 6 
			 2004 3 
			 2005(77) 1 
		
	
	(77)To date.

Police

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what changes were recommended to management processes within the police training college in Northern Ireland following the recent investigation by the internal investigation branch; and how these changes have been implemented.

Shaun Woodward: The report constructed by internal investigation branch is an internal matter for the chief constable.
	However I am advised that all of the recommendations of the IIB report have been implemented.

Refuse Collection

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what research has been carried out comparing the cost of collecting household rubbish per household in Northern Ireland with the cost in other parts of the UK.

Angela Smith: The Department of the Environment has not carried out research comparing the cost of collecting household rubbish per household in Northern Ireland with the cost in other parts of the UK. However, one of the reporting functions of WasteDataFlowa national web-based system for all UK local authority/district council waste data reportingwill facilitate the comparison of the cost of collecting household waste per household across all local authorities/district councils in the UK. This information should be available by the autumn of 2006.

Respite Care

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many respite care places have been available in each year since 1998.

Shaun Woodward: Information on the number of respite care places is not available centrally. Health and Social Services Boards and Trusts do not have a specified number of residential or nursing home places dedicated solely to respite care, as places may be used to accommodate either permanent residents or persons requiring respite according to demand.

Road Traffic Accidents

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) fatal, (b) severe non-fatal and (c) other non-fatal injuries have been sustained in road traffic accidents by (i) drivers, (ii) passengers, (iii) cyclists and (iv) pedestrians in each of the last 10 years.

Shaun Woodward: The information requested is set out in the following table:
	
		Number of casualties by severity and road user class
		
			 Road user/Casualty severity 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 Pedestrians  
			 Killed 47 42 37 40 39 32 32 33 28 23 
			 Seriously injured 317 320 307 297 265 292 268 244 222 190 
			 Slightly injured 865 894 858 887 832 852 678 631 558 532 
			 Total 1229 1,256 1,202 1,224 1,136 1,176 978 908 808 745 
			
			 Drivers of motor vehicles  
			 Killed 48 62 54 51 62 91 64 56 57 63 
			 Seriously injured 609 674 631 615 628 748 738 656 523 509 
			 Slightly injured 4,791 5,147 5,280 5,630 5,836 6,417 5,795 5,246 4,526 4,216 
			 Total 5,448 5,883 5,965 6,296 6,526 7,256 6,597 5,958 5,106 4,788 
			
			 Motorcyclists  
			 Killed 8 7 15 10 7 7 11 19 20 22 
			 Seriously injured 99 72 80 85 98 138 146 168 144 143 
			 Slightly injured 141 137 178 216 230 326 268 278 285 311 
			 Total 248 216 273 311 335 471 425 465 449 476 
			 Pedal cyclists   
			 Killed 4 5 4 7 1 4 2 3 2 2 
			 Seriously injured 68 54 58 53 51 52 43 27 36 27 
			 Slightly injured 313 300 277 265 217 210 167 139 155 131 
			 Total 385 359 339 325 269 266 212 169 193 160 
			
			 Passengers  
			 Killed 36 25 32 50 30 36 38 39 37 36 
			 Seriously injured 421 462 455 468 448 540 461 406 347 295 
			 Slightly injured 3,877 4,277 4,336 4,614 4,597 4,890 4,325 3,870 3,324 2,950 
			 Total 4,334 4,764 4,823 5,132 5,075 5,466 4,824 4,315 3,708 3,281 
			
			 Pillion passengers  
			 Killed 1 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 2 0 
			 Seriously injured 7 9 1 6 6 11 10 13 9 8 
			 Slightly injured 17 14 18 12 15 17 26 20 14 13 
			 Total 25 23 29 19 23 28 36 33 25 21 
			
			 Other road users  
			 Killed 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 4 1 
			 Seriously injured 11 8 7 14 13 5 16 12 7 11 
			 Slightly injured 45 65 59 80 72 51 53 54 25 24 
			 Total 56 74 67 95 85 57 70 66 36 36 
			
			 All road users  
			 Killed 144 142 144 160 141 171 148 150 150 147 
			 Seriously injured 1,532 1,599 1,548 1,538 1,509 1,786 1,682 1,526 1,288 1,183 
			 Slightly injured 10,049 10,834 11,006 11,704 11,799 12,763 11,312 10,238 8,887 8,177 
			 Total 11,725 12,575 12,698 13,402 13,449 14,720 13,142 11,914 10,325 9,507

School Leavers

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of school leavers in (a) the constituency of East Belfast and (b) in Northern Ireland as a whole entered higher education in each of the last four years.

Angela Smith: The percentage of school leavers entering higher education in each of the last four years is as follows:
	
		Percentage of school leavers entering higher education
		
			  East Belfast Northern Ireland 
		
		
			 200304 38.0 37.1 
			 200203 n/a n/a 
			 200102 36.0 35.5 
			 200001 32.6 33.3 
		
	
	n/a=not available

Tuberculosis

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many notifications of tuberculosis in the Province there have been in each of the last (a) 10 years and (b) 12 months.

Shaun Woodward: Information on the number of cases of tuberculosis is not available on a monthly basis. Information for each of the last 10 years is detailed in the following table:
	
		
			  Tuberculosis 
		
		
			 2004(78) 84 
			 2003 57 
			 2002 67 
			 2001 55 
			 2000 51 
			 1999 57 
			 1998 66 
			 1997 70 
			 1996 78 
			 1995 84 
		
	
	(78)Figure for 2004 relating to tuberculosis is provisional.
	Source:
	Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre NI (CDSCNI), data are taken from the NI enhanced TB surveillance programme.
	Please note that figures may have changed since last reported due to CDSCNI undertaking a retrospective review of laboratory confirmed cases between 1994 and 2000.

Vehicle Excise Duty

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State forNorthern Ireland how many cars are taxed for roaduse in Northern Ireland; and what estimate he has made of the number avoiding payment of vehicle excise duty.

Angela Smith: At 31 December 2004, there were 736,706 cars licensed in Northern Ireland. In a survey of vehicle excise duty evasion carried out in 2004, the estimated evasion in traffic in the private and light goods tax classes (cars and light vans) in Northern Ireland was 6 per cent.

Vehicle Excise Duty

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much money was collected from vehicle excise duty for all vehicles in Northern Ireland in the last period for which figures are available.

Angela Smith: For the Financial Year ended 31 March 2005, 127,469,900 was collected in vehicle excise duty in Northern Ireland.

Vehicle Excise Duty

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many motorcycles are taxed for road use in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: At 31 December 2004, there were 27,326 motorcycles licensed in Northern Ireland.

Warm Homes Scheme

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he intends to invite tenders for the management of the Warm Homes Scheme when the current contract runs out.

David Hanson: The current contract for managing the Warm Homes Scheme, which expires in June 2006, has an option for a two-year extension. My Department will shortly consider whether to apply this option or to re-tender the contract.

Warm Homes Scheme

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects that targets will be set for the current year for the Warm Homes Scheme in Northern Ireland.

David Hanson: The target for the current financial year, as set out in the Department's 200506 Corporate and Business Plan, is to improve energy efficiency in 8,250 private sector homes through the Warm Homes Scheme.

Warm Homes Scheme

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the merits of the extension of the Warm Homes Scheme to cover more categories of people in fuel poverty.

David Hanson: The Warm Homes Scheme is targeted to assist the most vulnerable members of our society in fuel poverty. Within its current budget allocation, any extension of the scheme beyond its current limits would, clearly, lessen its impact and effectiveness. I have no plans, therefore, to extend the scheme at present but Iwill continue to keep the situation under review.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Alcohol Licences

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment the Government have made of whether the cost of appealing against a decision to grant an extended licence for the sale of alcohol is deterring people from doing so.

James Purnell: The fee that is payable to the magistrates court upon lodging an appeal, under schedule 6 of the Magistrates Courts Act 1980, is 23.50 inclusive. I do not believe that this is prohibitively high. Occasionally, additional costs may be awarded against an appellant at the magistrate's discretion if an appeal is considered vexatious or frivolous. The advice of the Magistrates Association and the Justices Clerks Society is that the awarding of costs for a licensing appeal should be an exception and not a rule. We would therefore not expect residents who are appealing to be penalised.

Archaeology and Heritage

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps the Government has taken to involve and interest young people in (a) archaeology and (b) heritage; and if she will make a statement.

David Lammy: We are working with DfES , English Heritage and the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) to promote the educational value of the contemporary and historic built environment as a learning resource for schools, to engage teachers; young people, and the wider community.
	Each year more than half a million school children visit English Heritage sites free of charge and over 400 family events are organised, from re-enactments to experience days. English Heritage supports the Council for British Archaeology in running National Archaeology Week during which, this year, an estimated 100,000 people took part.

Astroturf

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture,Media and Sport what safety guidelines the Government has issued in relation to the use of Astroturf pitches by children and young adults.

Richard Caborn: Sport England has produced guidance materials in partnership with the Sports and Play Construction Association (SAPCA) which define the standards considered acceptable for the procurement and construction of multi-use games areas and synthetic turf pitches. The guidance includes health and safety considerations and is primarily aimed at pitches designed for community use. The material complements existing technical guidance available from Sport England, SAPCA and the Governing Bodies of sport. The guidance is available on the Sport England website: www.sportengland.org/muga_part1.pdf. I am arranging for copies of the guidance to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Astroturf

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions the Minister for Sport has had with (a) Hammersmith and Fulham council and (b) the Fulham Football Club Community Sports Trust in relation to their plans to astroturf an area of Bishops Park, London, SW6; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: None. We are aware that a planning application has been submitted to Hammersmith and Fulham council to construct a multi-use artificial sports pitch and playing surface for community use at Bishop's Park. Sport England has been consulted on the planning application as a statutory consultee.

Burns Inquiry

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions her Department has had with the Football Association on the Burns Inquiry; and if she will make a statement on implementing her recommendations.

Richard Caborn: holding answer 17 October 2005
	I have had a number of discussions with the Football Association about Lord Burns' Structural Review of the FA.
	It is very important that the FA responds effectively to the demands of the game in the 21st century and Lord Burns' report provides a firm foundation for real progress to be made. It is vital that the FA takes full advantage of this opportunity and that they take up the challenge and implement the recommendations expeditiously.
	I will be watching closely the implementation process while respecting that this was an independent review and that it is for the FA to implement Lord Burns' recommendations.

Churches

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make further resources available for the repair of churches which are important heritage sites.

David Lammy: The Government have in place a range of initiatives to financially support the repair and maintenance of listed churches and cathedrals. The English Heritage 'Grants for Cathedrals' scheme has paid out over 40 million since 1991, and continues to offer a total of 1 million per year for the repair and protection of cathedrals. The joint English Heritage/Heritage Lottery Fund 'Repair Grants for Places of Worship' scheme is this year offering 24.5 million for the repair of historic church buildings, bringing to over 57 million the total offered under this scheme since its inception in 2002.
	The Chancellor announced, during Budget 2005, an extension to 2008 of the Listed Places of Worship Grant scheme. This scheme returns to faith groups the equivalent of the VAT incurred in repairing the fabric of listed places of worship. Around 35 million has been returned under the scheme since 2001.
	The Government support the Churches Conservation Trust with 3 million per year. The trust cares for 334 of the most architecturally or historically significant Anglican churches no longer needed for worship.

Departmental Estate

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the total floor space area is of buildings (a) owned and (b) leased by (i) her Department and (ii) its agencies.

David Lammy: The information requested is as follows.
	
		
			  Sq mtrs 
		
		
			 A (ii)  
			 Royal Parks Agency 4,810 
			 B (i)  
			 Cockspur Street 8,744 
			 Grove House 1,365.36 
			 Oceanic House 1,320.05 
			 Tottenham Court Road 1,840.45 
			 Blandford Street 248.7

Departmental Underspending

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her Department's underspend was in 200405 (a) in cash terms and (b) as a percentage of departmental budget.

David Lammy: The latest estimate of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport's underspend for 200405 is shown in the Public Expenditure Outturn White Paper published in July 2005 (cm6639). Copies are available in the Libraries of both Houses.

Departmental Vehicles

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many vehicles for which the Department is responsible are fitted with retreaded tyres.

David Lammy: None, all vehicles are provided by the Government Car and Dispatch Agency.

Digital Broadcasting

Michael Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will provide public funding to research and pilot local commercial media services on digital platforms.

James Purnell: The Government, jointly with Ofcom,has commissioned research into the economic sustainability of local television services on digital platforms. I have no plans to fund pilots of local commercial media services.

Digital Broadcasting

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations she has received regarding the transmission and reception of digital television in the Bexhill-on-Sea and Battle area.

James Purnell: holding answer 17 October 2005
	We have received no recent representation apart from the hon. Member's letter of 12 June, regarding the availability of digital terrestrial television (DTT) services in Bexhill-on-Sea and Battle.

Digital Broadcasting

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to increase the take-up of BBC Freeview in the Bexhill-on-Sea and Battle area.

James Purnell: holding answer 17 October 2005
	The vast majority of households in Bexhill-on-Sea and Battle can, with the appropriate equipment, receive the BBC's digital television services via digital satellite or digital terrestrial.
	The Secretary of State has confirmed the regional timetable for digital switchover; it will take place between 2008 and 2012 by ITV region in the following order:
	
		
			  ITV region 
		
		
			 2008 Border 
			 2009 West Country, HTV Wales, Granada 
			 2010 HTV West, Grampian, Scottish Television 
			 2011 Yorkshire, Anglia, Central 
			 2012 Meridian, Carlton/LWT (London), Tyne Tees, Ulster 
		
	
	Note:
	Further details can be found at www.digitaltelevision.gov.uk
	Digital switchover will take place in Bexhill-on-Sea and Battle (Meridian region) in 2012; it will enable coverage of digital terrestrial television to reach the same level as that of the current analogue signals.

Football

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what role the Government has in the Barclays Premiership Football in the Community scheme.

Richard Caborn: The Barclays Spaces for Sports scheme is an exciting new partnership between Barclays, Groundwork and the Football Foundation, providing 30 million over three years to create or improve sports facilities in communities across the UK. Seven flagship sites per year will be delivered with matched funding from the Football Foundation.
	The Government fully supports this partnership and while the scheme is independent of Government, the Government, in partnership with the Football Association, FA Premier League, each fund the Football Foundation 45 million over three years.

Libraries

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent steps her Department has taken to encourage library use; and if she will make a statement.

David Lammy: Since 2002 DCMS has introduced a range of improvement measures such as the Public Library Standards and the Framework for the Future Strategy and Action Plan. There have also been developments such as the inception of the People's Network which has linked virtually all of the country's public libraries to the internet. Visits to public libraries have increased by 19 million in the past two years.

Licensing Act

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will take steps to ensure that residents appealing the award of a late licence to a nearby establishment under the Licensing Act 2003 will not incur legal costs if their appeal is lost.

James Purnell: A resident wishing to appeal against the decision to grant an extension under the Licensing Act 2003 has to pay a procedural fee of 23.50 in total. This is the usual payment required by the courts to cover costs incurred issuing and delivering a summons of complaint.
	The awarding of costs is a matter for the courts. The advice of the Magistrates Association and the Justices Clerks Society is that the awarding of costs for a licensing appeal should be an exception and not a rule. I would therefore not expect residents who are appealing to be penalised.

Licensing Act

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her policy is on whether a local licensing authority may use a special policy on cumulative impact to refuse a variation for longer opening hours to serve alcohol, in an existing premises licence, under the Licensing Act 2003; and if she will make a statement.

James Purnell: The Guidance issued by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, to licensing authorities, under section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003, makes it clear that the cumulative impact of licensed premises on the promotion of the licensing objectives is a proper matter for a licensing authority to consider in developing its licensing policy statement. The guidance sets out how the licensing authority can consider adopting a special policy on cumulative impact. It also states that the effect of such a policy is to create a rebuttable presumption that applications for new premises licences or club premises certificates or material variations (which could include longer opening hours) will normally be refused, if relevant representations to that effect are received. The onus would be on the applicant to demonstrate that the operation of the premises involved will not add to the cumulative impact already being experienced.

Licensing Act

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate her Department has made of the number of objections from local residents to applications for premises licences or variations under the Licensing Act 2003.

James Purnell: Information on the number of objections there have been from local residents to applications for premises licences or variations under the Licensing Act 2003 is not held centrally but can be obtained from local authority licensing authorities. From our latest survey of a sample of licensing authorities we estimate that a quarter of applications to vary, or new premises licence applications, have attracted representations from local residents.

Licensing Act

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate the Government have made of the number of licensing appeals that have been heard by magistrates courts under the Licensing Act 2003.

James Purnell: Information on the number of licensing appeals that have been heard by magistrates courts under the Licensing Act 2003 is not held centrally but can be obtained from local magistrates courts or from licensing authorities. The transitional period under the 2003 Act is only part way through and it is too early to know exactly how many cases will go to appeal. However, from our latest survey of a sample of licensing authorities, the initial evidence is that the vast majority of applications are being resolved at hearings or earlier.

London Bombings

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans her Department has to commemorate those who lost their lives in the London bombings on 7 July; and if she will make a statement.

Tessa Jowell: A national memorial service, to remember the victims of the London Bombings on the 7 July 2005, will be held on 1 November at St Paul's Cathedral. The families and friends of those who died and were injured in the attacks will be joined by senior members of the Royal Household and Government, as well as representatives from the emergency and transport services.

Lottery Awards

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many Lottery awards have been made in coalfield local authority areas using the classification employed in Fair distribution of Lottery funding to coalfields and other areas for each year since 1997; how much was awarded to such areas in each year; what those figures represent per 10,000 population in each case; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: The information is given in the table. The figures are aggregates for the 11 coalfield local authority areas of Ashfield, Barnsley, Blyth Valley, Bolsover, Doncaster, Kirklees, Rotherham, St Helens, Wakefield, Wansbeck and Wigan.
	The information is derived from the Department's Lottery award database. This is searchable at www.lottery.culture.gsi.gov.uk, and uses information supplied by the Lottery distributors.
	
		
			  Number of awards Total value of awards (000 rounded) Value of awards (000, rounded) per 10,000 population (using 2001 Census figures) 
		
		
			 1997 327 55,247 244 
			 1998 163 21,778 96 
			 1999 642 45,792 203 
			 2000 915 25,937 115 
			 2001 852 45,931 203 
			 2002 1,013 86,378 382 
			 2003 1,044 58,722 260 
			 2004 955 46,061 204 
			 2005(79) 538 10,955 48 
		
	
	(79)To date.

Scheduled Monument Consent

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will seek to legislate to amend the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 to require public consultation when there is an application for scheduled monument consent.

David Lammy: The issue of public consultation for scheduled monument consent is being considered as part of the Heritage Protection Review and proposals will be outlined in the proposed White Paper, expected in spring 2006. This will include proposals on the future of listed building consent, scheduled monument consent and marine consents.

Sport England

Jim Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people have participated in Sport England's World Class Performers initiative; and how many of those are (a) UK nationals and (b) other nationals.

Richard Caborn: Around 4,000 athletes have participated in Sport England World Class Programmes since they were introduced in 1997. All athletes were UK nationals, as the programme only supports those athletes eligible to compete for Great Britain.

Video-conferencing

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many video-conferencing units are installed in (a) the Department, and (b) each agency of the Department; what percentage of offices have these facilities in each case; and what plans there are to increase this proportion.

David Lammy: The information is as follows.
	(a): One
	(b): None
	There are no plans to increase the quantity of this equipment.

Volunteering

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many volunteering positions her Department has offered in each of the last five years.

David Lammy: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport does not employ volunteers to work within the organisation, although many of DCMS's Non Departmental Public Bodies make significant use of volunteers. The Department does, however, actively encourage its staff to participate in voluntary activities. For example, we allow up to five days paid voluntary leave per year and actively promote volunteering opportunities. DCMS staff are currently involved in activities such as prison visiting, counselling and reading in schools.

Watermark Project

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether her Department has joined the Watermark project.

David Lammy: The Department joined the Watermark Project in 2002 in respect of all of its four sites. But it soon became apparent to ADSM plc, who the Watermark Project appointed to advise departments on water usage reductions, that due to the measures that DCMS had already put in place it could not offer help in further reducing the DCMS's water consumption. ADSM plc therefore advised DCMS that it would not benefit from continuing membership of the project.